[THEJOURNAL.IE] HIGH IN THE hills of Myanmar's war-torn borderlands, a clutch of new leprosy cases among communities virtually cut off from medical help is a sign that the country's battle with the ancient disease is far from over.It took six days by plane, boat, cycle of violence, bus — and an arduous mountain trek — for a group of medical workers to treat two leprosy patients in a remote corner of the country, where conflict and neglect are the legacy of decades of military rule and even access to basic medicines is a distant dream.
But the charity-funded medics were also on the lookout for evidence that the disease had spread.
They soon found three more leprosy sufferers, including one man who had such a severe case he required hospital care.
"I promised him that I would come back for him or I would send someone to pick him up," said Doctor Saw Hsar Mu Lar, after the May expedition, as he returned to his hospital in Mawlamyaing, Mon state — one of only two specialising in leprosy in Myanmar.
Weeks later the patient was still waiting to travel as tensions between the Myanmar army and local rebels closed transportation routes.