More funding for leprosy prevention in 2001
Ha Noi, March 22 (VNA) -- The State will allocate VND 22 billion (USD 1.57 million) for leprosy prevention in 2001, VND 5 billion more than the last year.
The figure includes VND 5 billion coming from international organizations.
The health care sector is striving to reduce the leprosy incidence rate from 0.23/10,000 persons in 2000 to below 0.20/10,000 persons in 2001 and the rate of new disabled lepers to 20 percent.
About 2,000-2,500 new lepers are discovered in the country annually, and nearly 25 percent of them become disabled. The disease is still not well controlled in remote and isolated areas.--VNA
