DAVAO CITY — This city celebrated World Leprosy Month starting Sunday, 26 January and will run through February.

This was bared by Dr. Donna May A. Sarenas and Dr. Silvino Rey Pino of the Department of Dermatology, Southern Philippines Medical Center at Monday’s Kapehan sa PIA Healthy Davao Media Forum.

“World Leprosy Month is a worldwide celebration. We will be having a series of seminars on Leprosy treatments, preventions and face to face consultations with our patients. We are having this to educate the people that Leprosy is not transmissible as many think it is. More, we will talk on how people will have to treat patients with Leprosy,” she said.

Sarenas explained that Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae. The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.

Some 35 patients are being treated for now coming from different areas of Southern Mindanao.

As for 6 February, aside from the seminars, there will be face-to-face consultation and talks regarding with the patient’s stigma of depression due to cast aside treatment.

“We are reaching out to the public to join us in our seminars. We are here to eradicate the disease and to treat it. Leprosy is curable as the World Health Authority provides its treatment,” she added.