Ahmad Nabi
LANDI KOTAL: The disease of Lieshmania has got uncontrolled as the patients of the disease have crossed figure of 15000 in Landi Kotal, health official said. The more affected areas of Landi Kotal Shiekhmal Khel, Mirdad Khel, while cases had been filed from Bazaar Zakha Khel, Khuga Khel, Khyber, Shelman and Pased Khel, the sources said.
The hospital medicines stores lacked required vaccine and medicine that caused deterioration of their disease, locals told. In charge Lieshmania control center in Landi Kotal hospital, Ihsanullah Afridi while providing details told that monthly 50 to 100 new cases were reported with the center that and according to their data presently number of registered Lieshmania patients were 4000 while unregistered effectees were 8000 to 10000 mostly the children.He added that 1350 patients had been treated so far while curing of 2357 patients remained incomplete due to lack of medicines.
The official maintained that 2160 Lieshmaina injections had been provided jointly by the health department and Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi but that could not meet demand and through the vaccine only 140 patients were treated.
Shahid Shinwari, a political worker and resident of Dargay, Kam-Shelman said that the disease lapped the whole area and it needed war footings initiatives to be adopted. He suggested to set up special medical camps in every locality to provide treatment to the Lieshmania patients beside effective utilization of Basic Health Units, available in the areas against the disease.
The effected families demanded of the authorities concerned to supply them needed vaccine of the disease so that to get rid off of the illness and to conduct anti-mosquito spray in the area to halt spread of the disease. Dr Fazal Razeq, skin specialist in Headquarter Hospital Landi Kotal said, Leishmania caused biting of a kind of mosquito namely, Sand fly present in hilly area and usually breed in fresh water.
The fly that had been transported from Europe to Pakistan stung on exposed portion of human body in morning and evening times and could fly up to height of four to five feet and that was the reason that children were the more affectees of it, he informed. He further added after biting of the fly, it developed as skin soar and if not treated properly, spotted the affected area especially the face. It took 14 days to four months to treat the patient and the cure was carried out through vaccine (injection), medicine and crytherophy keeping in view condition of the disease”, he stated.
“Covering of ponds, clearing of drainage system, conducting of anti-mosquito spray regularly in addition with use of dress that covers whole body and installing of nets on windows and entrances before going to sleep are the main prevention necessary to curtain the Sand fly breeding and halt to spread of the disease”, Dr Razeq maintained. When director health Dr Rehman was contacted on the matter he said that so far 25000 cases had been registered with health department from across the merged tribal districts including 9000 cases form district Khyber.
He added that three Lieshmania control center had been set up in Landi Kotal,Jamrud and Bara and health officials had been asked to launch comprehensive activities including treatment, prevention and awareness pertaining of the disease. Approximately 38000 Lieshmania injection, imported from abroad had been provided to the ex-tribal belt and further assistance and support would be extended till elimination of the disease, Dr Rehman remarked.
He asked residents of the most affected areas to strictly follow the prevention practices, including wearing of full dress and to apply anti-mosquitoes medicine especially to children and pregnant women from 06 pm to 06 am so that to avoid further spreading of the disease.
