A public health expert Dr Kaior Akaanger has disclosed that over 350 cases of Buruli Ulcer have been identified in some communities in Benue State in July 2024.
Dr Akaanger, the programme manager of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Benue State, attributed increased infection to low awareness and myths and misconceptions surrounding ulcers in a telephone conversation.
The public health expert who disclosed this during a telephone conversation with our correspondent explained further that out of the over 350 reported cases of Buruli Ulcer reported only 80 are currently receiving treatment due to the non-availability of drugs.
According to him, “The major problem we are facing in case finding and treatment is funding, because without funds one can not be able to create awareness for people to be educated about the causes, symptoms and presents themselves to the nearest hospital for treatment when it occurs.”
He also lamented that low awareness creation and enlightenment of the public to do away with the myths and misconception of linking Buruli Ulcer to witchcraft, which has grossly affected the early presentation of cases to the hospital.
While encouraging Buruli Ulcer patients to always present themselves to the hospital for onward treatment, Akaanger also debunked rumours making the round that Buruli Ulcer can only be treated with traditional herbs, even as he warned the public against linking the disease to witchcraft.
He said the major problem now is getting the desired drugs, which are mainly produced outside Nigeria, to enable them to place the remaining patients on treatment.
Giving the symptoms of the disease, Dr Akaanger explained that a Mycobacterium Ulcerans cause Buruli Ulcer, that usually start with a painless wound that expand day by day looking fresh always and with time the infected person loses sensitivity around the wound.
While appealing for funding from all and sundry that will help in placing all identified patients on treatment, the public health expert commended the Benue State governor Hyacinth Alia for allocating N50 million in the 2024 budget to TB, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer programme in the state which he said is first of its kind.
He said, “If the N50 million budget is released, it will go a long way in helping us in the area of treatment case finding, awareness creation among other things.”
Recall that earlier this year, the commissioner for Health and Human Services Dr Yanmar Ortese disclosed that 354 suspected cases of Buruli Ulcer were found in 11 out of 23 local government areas of the state.
The commissioner who made this know in a press conference also said, “ I wish to use this medium to invite partners who have technical competencies in the containment of outbreak of diseases to come and work with us to enhance the Health security of the state, and by extension, Nigeria and the global community.”
