More than half the illegal immigrants arriving in Malaysia suffer from leprosy, says Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.
He said such immigrants with the disease were detected in Sabah, Pahang, Selangor, among others.
"(But) foreigners who come via legal channels go through a medical screening in their country, and are further examined here," he said.
Hilmi was speaking after the 85th anniversary celebration of the National Leprosy Control Centre (PKKN) and launch of the Sungai Buloh Hospital Leprosy Gallery at PKKN's community hall in Selangor today.
Also present were Sungai Buloh Hospital director Datuk Dr Khalid Ibrahim; Health Ministry's Disease Control Division, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Sector head Dr Jiloris JF Dony and PKKN senior principal assistant director Dr Sai'ah Abdullah.
Earlier in his speech, Hilmi said PKKN was a historic icon in the field of medicine as it had played an important role in eradicating leprosy.
"The Leprosy Centre established in 1969 managed the control of leprosy with distinction when the prevalence rate of leprosy was 0.9 cases for 10,000 residents, in 1994.
"It achieved the target earlier than the date set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which had targeted 2000 as the year in which the country would be leprosy-free," he said.
The leprosy gallery will showcase artifacts used by leprosy patients as well as research laboratories, which can educate the public about the history of leprosy in the country.
Hilmi said the government provided assistance to leprosy patients residing in PKKN, including a home, a place for them to work at agriculture and a daily allowance of RM21. – Bernama
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