Pakistan observed 58th World Leprosy Day on Sunday amidst its absolute control over the disease with 90 percent recovery rate among the 55,000 registered patients across the country. The facts were highlighting during the ceremony organised by Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre on Saturday evening.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on social sector Shahnaz Wazir Ali felicitated Dr Ruth Pfau and her team for commitment in achieving the leprosy elimination in the country.
She appealed to the team to help government in its efforts to eradicate polio virus in next two years time.
Shahnaz Wazir Ali on behalf of the government also assured to extend all support to MLC society in its efforts to eradicate polio and TB from the country, besides, blindness prevention.
Dr Ruth Pfau said achievement of gradual elimination of leprosy was because of the concerted efforts by a team of committed workers. She said Leprosy Elimination does not mean that disease has been eradicated from the country.
"Eradication is only possible once people stopped getting scared of the ailment and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of the patients," she observed.
Dr Pfau also made a passionate appeal to the people to do away with stigma attached to disease and tendency to ostracize the sufferer.
"We need similarly control TB and prevent blindness in the country," she stressed.