A study by The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh (TLMIB) reveals that 76 percent people affected by leprosy (PAL) in Bangladesh facing severe financial crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The finding was disclosed at a workshop on ‘Leprosy Research Dissemination’ in the conference room at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Dhaka on Sunday jointly arranged by National Leprosy Program (NLP) and TLMI-B.
The study titled “An assessment of COVID-19 impact on persons affected by leprosy in Bangladesh” was conducted by TLMIBwhich was funded by NOREC.
Professor Dr Md Shamiul Islam, Director, Micro Bacterial Disease Control (MBDC), DGHS, presided over the meeting attended by Dr Md Enamul Haque, Deputy Director, MBDC & Manager of National Leprosy Program as the chief guest.
Salomon Sumon Halder, Country Director, TLMIB; Dr Md Shafiqul Islam and ex-deputy director MBDC & program manager, NLP; Dr Safir Uddin Ahmed, Dr Sheikh Abdul Hadi, ex-DPM, Leprosy; Dr Nayma Haque, DPM and coordinator, Leprosy; Dr Sabera Sultana, National Professional Officer, NTD, World Health Organization; Dr Adnan Rassel, DPM, training & logistics; Dr Md Sohel Rana, assistant director, leprosy; Dr Shahed Hossain, consultant scientist, icddrb among others were present at the event as special guests.
A research team under leadership of Jiptha Boiragee, program support coordinator, TLMIB conducted the research from March 2021 to August 2021.
The research findings presented by Roton Malo, project officer, TLMIB, shows that 26% leprosy affected persons had no source of income during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, 47.85% PAL had no income source for 1 to 10 months during the pandemic. Only 26.27% PAL had regular working opportunity for survival.
A total of 46.61% families of persons affected by leprosy faced food shortage during the pandemic while 8 respondents out of total 255 respondents (51% men & 49% women) said they married off their underaged girls to reduce family expenses.
The study conducted in 17 districts form all eight division also reveals that 89.8 percent people affected by leprosy could not go to hospital for needed leprosy-related services due to movement restrictions.
