The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Elimination Programme (NTLEP) has bemoaned the resurgence of leprosy cases in some districts in Malawi as it raises a spectre of undermining the goal of eliminating Leprosy in all districts by 2030.
This was revealed during a bi-annual meeting organised by the Ministry of Health through NTLEP which brought together various faith-based organisations and journalists in Salima.
Dickens Chimatiro, who is monitoring and evaluation officer for NTLEP, said Malawi has racked up more than 600 Leprosy cases cumulatively, with 367 new cases.
He said, “This development is a cause for worry as there still remains a burden of leprosy in Nkhotakota, Mchinji and Balaka and this scales back our efforts to eliminate the burden as the goal stipulates”.
According to Chimatiro, stigma associated with leprosy can deter individuals from seeking treatment, and that is why the programme instituted patient-centred care and prevention as some of the pillars of the leprosy elimination strategic plan.
“Strengthening the delivery of leprosy services in all districts, contact investigation, default tracing and bringing back all leprosy patients to treatment by reimbursing transport fares to patients who have travelled to seek treatment from hospitals, and strengthening surveillance will go a long way to bringing back the programme on the pedestal towards the elimination of the disease,” Chimatiro explained.
Leprosy cases have been reported in Malawi since 2014, with some districts exceeding the national elimination target with Nkhotakota, Mchinji, and Balaka remaining grey areas as they have shown acute resurgence despite Malawi attaining WHO Leprosy Elimination status in 1994.
According to data published by NTLEP, as of 2024, Malawi had registered less than one case per 10, 000 people, albeit some districts reported more than one case per 10, 000 people.
NTLEP mission remains ensuring effective, equitable, and accessible leprosy prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care services in Malawi as an integrated programme with tuberculosis.
