Medical teams reach leishmaniasis outbreak area in Karak

Staff working late in the evening for treating patients

PESHAWAR: Medical teams have reached the Banda Daud Shah area of Karak district for treating leishmaniasis patients, officials said.

Health authorities are putting in their best efforts to treat the leshminiasis patients in Karak district facing the outbreak of the disease.

Staff at public health facilities was working on Saturday and Sunday till late in the evening for the treatment of Leshminiasis victims, said Secretary Health K-P Dr Farooq Jameel.

He said that Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan took notice of Leishmania cases in district Karak and ordered the authorities concerned to take steps on war footing for controlling the outbreak of leshminiasis disease and providing relief to the victims.

Dr Jameel said that acting upon the directives of CM and health minister medical teams had already been sent to the affected area of Banda Daud Shah, where cases were reported.

He said that medical aid was being provided to the victims even late night on Saturday. “I was personally monitoring the whole situation and was continuously in contact with DHO Karak to cover the all patients of the ailment till Sunday evening,” he said in his video message adding that health department K-P had also kicked off awareness campaign in the district to sensitise the community people to adopt precautionary measures and protect themselves from the illness.

Director General Health Services Dr Arshad Khan said that Leishmaniasis is a disease spread by the bite of certain types of sand flies.

He said most of the cases of the disease report in hilly areas of district Karak where the climate was also dry. “It has become a challenge to get rid of this disease in mountainous areas,” he said adding that the “disease is not an endemic one rather it is transferred to our people from Afghan refugees living in the region.”

The cases of leishmania also occurs in hilly areas of district Nowshera and Mardan, he said and added that affectees should not be worried as this type of disease was curable and they can soon be recovered after proper treatment.

DG health conveyed the message that people should be careful during morning and evening times in district Karak by taking precautionary measures like use of lotion and mosquito net to protect them from the bite of sand fly.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2019.