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The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated his call for an end to stigmatization against lepers as he pledges government's unwavering support for them.

Dr. Bawumia, on Sunday January 28, 2024,  joined residents of the Weija Leprosarium in Accra, the Ghana Lepers Aid Committee and other stakeholders, to mark this year's World Leprosy Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Bawumia, who is also the Chief Patron of the Ghana Lepers Aid Committee and a strong supporter of lepers in the country, said treating lepers with love is as important as ending the disease.

He therefore called for lepers to be treated with love stressing they pose no risk of transmission.

"Many people don't understand that when leprosy is treated and cured, there is no risk of transmission."

"This is what we have to understand as Ghanaians and as human beings that when you meet a cured leper, you have to show them love by touching and hugging them. There is no risk of transmission."

"Let us deal with the cured lepers with love and care. It is not their fault that they contracted this disease. It is an affliction which could have happened to any of us", Dr. Bawumia said.

While urging society to embrace the lepers, he also outlined measures that the government has taken in the fight against the disease including infrastructure development at various leprosariums across the country.

"We are committed as a government to facilitating the provisions of national programs to help these marginalized Ghanaians. They represent the very least and downtrodden in our society and they have hope in us. We therefore cannot let them down", Dr. Bawumia emphasized.

The Vice President added; "Through our work in the past seven years, we have improved the fight against leprosy and made discovery in that area through better collaboration with the National Leprosy Program under the Ghana Health Service. Surveillance has improved, case finding increased and treatment has reached more." 

The Vice President named government interventions such as the redevelopment of project at Weija
Leprosarium, the renovations at Ankaful Leprosarium General Hospital, the Laboratory for Leprosy and Skin Conditions at Wa and the Leprosy Clinic at Kokofu as some of the developmental projects under this administration towards improving the conditions of the lepers.

"This year, we are equipping all these facilities through the District Assemblies Common Fund and commissioning them to operate. We have also distributed food to about 500 people affected by leprosy in the country this January, courtesy of the District Assemblies Common Fund."

"This year, Ankaful, Weija, Nkanchina, Wa, Doremu, Ho and Kokofu districts have all benefited from food and Medical supplies. We are grateful to the District Assemblies Common fund."

Dr. Bawumia also cut sod for the construction of a kitchen for the Weija Leprosarium which he has donated money in support of it.

World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on the last Sunday of every January to spread awareness about the disease.

Spending the day at leprosariums to show love to lepers is one of the key missions of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and this year was no exception.