Leprosy update for Community Health Agents in a municipality of Ceará: experience report

• Autor(a) principal: Brito, Diana Damasceno de
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Souza, Andréia Luíza da Silva, Meneses, Bruna Fontenele de, Sales, Sandy Pereira de, Araujo, Maria Vanderline Pimenta
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://rbsp.sesab.ba.gov.br/index.php/rbsp/article/view/3764
• topic: Hanseníase; Agentes comunitários de saúde; Educação em saúde; Leprosy; Community health agents; Health education; Lepra; Agentes comunitarios de salud; Educación para la salud

Leprosy is an chronic infectious disease caused by the etiologic agent Mycobacterium leprae, which affects peripheral nerves, particularly Schwann cells. Hence the relevance and originality of this report in understanding that this disease presents great possibilities of prevention and control. This experience report describes an update on leprosy conducted alongside Community Health Agents (CHA) in a municipality of Ceará, Brazil, designed by volunteers from the Movement for Reintegration of People Affected by Leprosy with support from the city of Tianguá (CE) and collaboration of nursing students interning at a Basic Health Unit (UBS). The action took place in the auditorium of the city hall, with the participation of 56 CHAs. Main symptoms, treatment, the importance of early diagnosis, and its status as a curable disease were discussed. The group showed great interest, asking questions and reporting their experiences regarding users affected by leprosy. The intervention proved the effectiveness and potential of the training proposed for leprosy diagnosis and control in the municipality studied. Leprosy control will be possible if the actions carried out within the family health strategy are reinforced, considering a professional team constituted by community health agents, as they are responsible for actively search for suspected cases in the territory.