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AWEIL - 27 Feb 2013

Aweil celebrates World Leprosy Day

Northern Bahr al-Ghazal state for the first time celebrated World Leprosy Day in Aweil on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion of the World’s Leprosy Day in Aweil Freedom Square, the state director in the Ministry of Health Gabiir Riiny Riiny Lual encouraged the people of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal not to discriminate against victims of leprosy, pointing out that the disease now is curable.

“I think it is a feast when you tell someone with leprosy that there is treatment to it. There is an organization called GLRA is the one helping us and the government of South Sudan. And this is good to inform all the people that there is now a treatment to leprosy in Aweil, Gordhiim and Nyamlel hospitals,” Lual stated.

Meanwhile a leprosy victim named Ajok explained how it started, how she got treated, and advised the people to come forward and go to the hospital in order to get cured. “When it started to me it started as confusion and when I went to Dr. Mabior where I got my treatment,” she said.

“It started with reddish spots on my body and I did not know what it was but Dr. Mabior confirmed it to me that it was leprosy. For this I tell my brothers and sisters to go to hospital and seek treatment and not feel disgraced for having contracted the disease,” said Ajok.

UN State Representative Seth Kumi encouraged the people of the state to attend to the hospital for treatment and if they have contracted leprosy disease.

 “We would also continue to offer our support through our lead agencies: the World Health Organization and UNICEF,” Kumi remarked. He also appreciated the role of the Arkangelo Ali organization.

“Leprosy is a curable disease. If it is not treated will cause deformities, so people who have it should not be discriminated against, and we in the UN will continue advocacy programmes against all forms of discrimination against people suffering from leprosy,” stated Seth.

Photo: Stated Director General in the Ministry of Health and UN State Representative, Aweil (Radio Tamazuj)