Leprosy is quite rare in Indonesia, but in fact there are quite a few cases.
Leprosy transmission still occurs in Indonesia, thus placing the country in the 3rd position of the country with the highest leprosy cases in the world, behind India and Brazil.
Leprosy transmission generally occurs due to interactions with untreated sufferers. The interaction can include direct skin contact and breathing. However, this process must be continuous and in a long period of time, corresponding to a relatively long incubation period (2-5 years or more).
Paulus Manek (kanan) Kehilangan Masa Remaja karena Kusta Source: Liputan 6.com
What is leprosy?
Leprosy or leprosy has been known for nearly 2000 years BC. It is an infectious disease caused by bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae. This disease attacks various parts of the body including the nerves, skin and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract (World Health Organization
[WHO]
, 2019).
Leprosy is not only a clinical problem, but also a social problem. There is a wrong belief in the community about the leprosy disease.
Even today there are people who consider leprosy is a disease that is inherited and is associated with cursed blood that is dirty or unclean, so that people affected by leprosy should be ostracized from the community.
Discrimination along with stigma that has not completely disappeared will complicate the process of total elimination. Because, these two things can make patients and their families reluctant to seek treatment, so that the disease continues and transmission cannot be stopped.
The following interview with Paulus Manek, Chair of the Indonesian Association of Independent Leprosy (Permata), discusses this issue.
