Leprosarium: learning ground to save future generation

Background: Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease that continues to be a public health problem in underdeveloped and developing countries. The fear of the spread of the infection from Persons Affected by Leprosy (PALs) to normal individuals is one of the reasons why they are usually kept in the “Leper Colonies”. Health workers and medical students are not exempted from the fear of the spread of this disease. Many of them are afraid of working among the Persons Affected by Leprosy

Aim: To determine the prevalence of leprosy in families of patients residing at the Baptist Health Service in Ogbomoso

Material and methods: A descriptive study design was used and 29 Persons Affected by Leprosy (PALs) resident in the leprosarium and consented to the study were interviewed.

Results: The age of the respondents ranges from 35 to 85 years and the mean age is 59.97±11.9 years. The prevalence of leprosy in families of index patients was 6.4% while 93.1% had no history of contact with leprous patients.  Also, 34.5% had been diagnosed with the disease for about 31-40 years. Less than one-half (48.3%) of them are living with their children in the camp and none of their children came down with the disease.

Conclusion: Treated PALs in Baptist Health Service, Ogbomoso, Nigeria did not spread the disease to the children living with them. This should encourage the Medical Schools to make use of Leper Colonies as a teaching ground for medical students.