Podcast544 people in Turkey suffering from leprosy
As of 2019, 544 people in Turkey were suffering from leprosy, with two new cases being reported last year, according to recent figures from the Ministry of Health.
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As of 2019, 544 people in Turkey were suffering from leprosy, with two new cases being reported last year, according to recent figures from the Ministry of Health.
The infectious disease attacks the skin and nerves and can severe disfigurement, leading to a serious stigma surrounding the illness over the years, though if detected early it can be treated and completely healed.
According to the UN, as of this year more than 50 countries even have laws that discriminate against leprosy patients.
The struggle against leprosy in Turkey began in 1919, when Dr. Mazhar Osman opened a special ward for leprosy patients at an Istanbul hospital. At the time there were 40 people suffering from the disease. Dr. Türkan Saylan was also prominently known for leprosy activism, establishing an association geared toward fighting the disease in 1976.
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