The central region, particularly the Central Highlands, is facing bigchallenges in further reduce the incidence of leprosy, a conferenceheard on June 13.
Hundreds of researchers anddoctors attended the 17th Dermatology Conference of Central-CentralHighlands region held in the central province of Binh Dinh.
According to reports at the event, the average annual detection rateof leprosy cases in the central region has been kept at under 1 per100,000 since 2005, but the rate is higher in several Central Highlandsprovinces. Kon Tum recorded the highest rate of 2.79 per 100,000,followed by Gia Lai with 2.04 per 100,000. Most newly-discovered leprosycases are in remote mountainous areas. In particular, the number ofchild patients of this disease in the first five months of this yearincreased by 3.17 percent compared to the same period last year.
Regional doctors blamed the situation on a lack of dermatologists atdistrict and communal clinics, while local people have little knowledgeof the disease, which keeps them from receiving prompt diagnosis andtreatment.
They also voiced concern about the appearance of some rare skin diseases in the region.
Participants agreed on the need to increase training for localmedical workers and expand educational campaigns on leprosy in remoteareas, while focusing efforts on detecting new cases and preventing thespread of infection.
Vietnam is implementing a national programme of action with the aim of eradicating leprosy by 2015.-VNA
Hundreds of researchers anddoctors attended the 17th Dermatology Conference of Central-CentralHighlands region held in the central province of Binh Dinh.
According to reports at the event, the average annual detection rateof leprosy cases in the central region has been kept at under 1 per100,000 since 2005, but the rate is higher in several Central Highlandsprovinces. Kon Tum recorded the highest rate of 2.79 per 100,000,followed by Gia Lai with 2.04 per 100,000. Most newly-discovered leprosycases are in remote mountainous areas. In particular, the number ofchild patients of this disease in the first five months of this yearincreased by 3.17 percent compared to the same period last year.
Regional doctors blamed the situation on a lack of dermatologists atdistrict and communal clinics, while local people have little knowledgeof the disease, which keeps them from receiving prompt diagnosis andtreatment.
They also voiced concern about the appearance of some rare skin diseases in the region.
Participants agreed on the need to increase training for localmedical workers and expand educational campaigns on leprosy in remoteareas, while focusing efforts on detecting new cases and preventing thespread of infection.
Vietnam is implementing a national programme of action with the aim of eradicating leprosy by 2015.-VNA
