Leprosy cases in the Volta Region are said to be on the decline this year, thanks to intensive education and outreach programmes carried out. The first half of this year recorded 18 leprosy cases as against 61 cases counted in 2010. Mr Anthony Adjavor, Regional Technical Officer in charge of Leprosy, said the decline was a good reflection of the effective education outreach programmes carried out over the past few years. He told the Ghana News Agency in Ho on Saturday during which the Global Evangelical Church, Yahweh Chapel from Lashibi in Accra, visited the region to present assorted items to some cured lepers there. Mr Adjavor said effective mopping up of the infected for treatment had lowered the numbers of reported leprosy cases. This, he said, showed that the days when people reported with chopped hands and limbs as a result of the disease, were gone and that currently people only reported with lesions for examination and treatment if positive. Items presented included five bags of rice, four cartons of milk, three crates of juice drinks, bales of clothes, various quantities or measures of soap, sugar, bread, beans, maize, gari, toilet rolls, safety matches and a cash of GH¢200.00. The overall cost of the items and cash donated amounted to GH¢4,000.00. Rev Godwin Agbevem, Parish Priest, said Christ’s edict required people to show compassion to all and even to the unknown. He said it was the duty of all Christians to endevour to lighten the burden of those afflicted by diseases and other dire situations. Rev Agbevem said in similar outreaches the Yahweh Chapel donated food items to the Sakumono Community Hospital in Accra and was currently constructing a bus stop shed at Lashibi.