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Ministry of Health will distribute 150,000 rapid leprosy tests

The Ministry of Health organized, this Tuesday (24), the Leprosy event in Brazil with the aim of publicizing actions against the disease. The folder announced the distribution of 150,000 rapid tests to detect the disease. The materials will be distributed throughout Brazil starting in February and will be intended for people who had contact with patients who had the disease confirmed.

According to the folder, with these new tests, Brazil is at the forefront of diagnosing the disease. The Unified Health System (SUS) will have two new support tests: the rapid test (serological) and the molecular biology test (PCR).

During the event, minister Nísia Trindade emphasized that the tests developed are the result of research and said that the ministry must assume the commitment to eradicate leprosy in the country. “We should be outraged by the fact that Brazil still ranks second in terms of cases, but this is not because of a global comparison, but because it is a curable disease,” she said.

At the seminar, the ministry also disclosed the goals to combat leprosy by 2030. Among them are: to reduce by 55% the rate of cases in children under 15 years of age; reduce by 30% the absolute number of new cases with a degree of physical disability; and take action on 100% of manifestations about discriminatory practices related to leprosy registered with the ombudsman.

The representative of the National Council of Health Secretaries, Thiago José Fernandes, said that it is necessary for the folder to deepen actions to combat the disease in the municipalities. “Primary care is indeed the way forward. We need to intensify training and empower our health professionals who are at the forefront”, concluded the representative.

The ministry also announced the AppHans mobile app. The program will allow patients to upload photos and text so that health professionals can make a faster diagnosis, start treatment and prevent cases of physical disability.

* Under supervision of Brenda Silva

Source: CNN Brasil

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