Inequities towards leprosy-affected people: A challenge during COVID-19 pandemic.

Sharika Mahato,Srijana Bhattarai,Rakesh Singh,Carlos Franco-Paredes

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0008537

Sharika Mahato, Srijana Bhattarai + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008537

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Abstract

Inequities towards leprosy-affected people: A challenge during COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

A health crisis has been brought by the COVID-19 pandemic: It is affecting societies and economies at their core and will most likely increase poverty and inequalities at a global scale, making achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) even more urgent [2]
COVID-19 has a massive impact because all the nonurgent hospital consultations and admissions are being discouraged in health facilities because of concerns of responding to increasing COVID-19 cases [4]
The drugs that are already been used in the leprosy reactions with proven efficacy are being tested in the COVID-19 patients, with increasing evidence of using thalidomide or steroids, including dexamethasone [12]

Summary

Introduction

A health crisis has been brought by the COVID-19 pandemic: It is affecting societies and economies at their core and will most likely increase poverty and inequalities at a global scale, making achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) even more urgent [2]. The nationwide lockdown accompanied by travel restrictions have been threatening all citizens, with greater impact on vulnerable social groups (including those affected with leprosy) for accessing healthcare services in particular.

Results

Conclusion