Leprosy is an infectious skin disease that causes severe disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms, legs and skin areas on the human body. Leprosy has been around since ancient times and is a long-term chronic disease.
Leprosy is still present in PNG and is a public health concern and awareness to Papua New Guineans on this disease is lacking throughout the country.
There a four to five hundred new cases reported annually in PNG. The high endemic provinces are NCD and Central, Gulf, Western, Sandaun and East New Britain provinces.
Medication is available in the country and leprosy is curable.
In this episode, we also feature Futua’s story, a person who has leprosy and lives alone without help or support from his family.
