Online Desk |  1 year ago | local

Fifteen leprosy cases have been detected in Zimbabwe.

Authorities say most of the cases detected in Binga, Matabeleland North have been fuelled by delays in screening. 

The Ministry of Health and Child Care Leprosy Focal Person Dr Nicholas Siziba said the ministry is working on reviving prevention, diagnosis and treatment programmes. 

He added that the ministry has been conducting training in Binga and other affected areas with funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to strengthen leprosy prevention. Zimbabwe eliminated leprosy as a public health problem in 1992 but the country remains vulnerable due to socio-economic factors such as poverty, overcrowding, and poor nutrition which still favour transmission of leprosy infection. 

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by slow-growing bacteria called mycobacterium leprae.