K-P health minister orders ‘strict monitoring’ of aid
Dr Hisham says leishmaniasis treatment centres have been set up in affected areas under guidelines of WHO
PHOTOS: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan on Friday ordered monitoring of assistance extended to leishmaniasis patients.
The health minister issued directives to all concerned District Health Officers and health officials for strict monitoring of health aid being provided to the victims of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
According to an official statement, so far 23,000 cases of leishmaniasis were reported throughout the province including tribal districts where round about 20,000 cases had been reported so far.
The health minister has directed the concerned DHOs, medical superintendents of public hospitals and other health officers to ensure that every patient of leishmaniasis was treated with best health facilities.
He said that leishmaniasis treatment centres had been set up where patients were being treated under the guidelines of WHO in affected districts. Health teams and Lady Health Workers were also creating awareness in affected areas to sensitize the people to adopt precautionary measures, so as they may not suffer from the disease. Beside this, local authorities were also conducing fogging and providing bed nets in affected areas.
Health Minister Dr Hisham and Secretary Health Dr. Farooq Jameel were personally reviewing the health aid being provided to the victims of leishmaniasis, the statement said. He said that through precautionary measures people can protect themselves from the disease in affected areas.
A leishmaniasis disease outbreak has occurred in various regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and ex-FATA areas, including Peshawar, Karak, Mohmand, and Landi Kotal, where new cases have been reported almost every day.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of the disease. The skin infection occurs following the bite of the sand fly. It causes wounds, ulcers and scarring on skin. Sand flies are smaller than mosquitoes and do not make any noise, so it is almost impossible to hear or see them. The best prevention from the disease is sleeping under a mosquito net, sleeping indoors, maintaining good personal hygiene, and ensuring proper waste management, including covering manholes and proper disposal and removal of garbage.
Signs of the disease include painless sores or ulcer-like lesions which slowly enlarge. Lesions usually will not heal, even with antibiotics, and will often lead to severe disfigurement and wound infection.
A center for the treatment of the disease was set up at Naseerullah Babar Hospital by the Directorate of Health Department in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières in May 2017. The hospital’s report also says patient flow has not slowed since 2019 began. Most patients are residents of Peshawar, while a few are from tribal areas, as well as Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2019.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan on Friday ordered monitoring of assistance extended to leishmaniasis patients.
The health minister issued directives to all concerned District Health Officers and health officials for strict monitoring of health aid being provided to the victims of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
According to an official statement, so far 23,000 cases of leishmaniasis were reported throughout the province including tribal districts where round about 20,000 cases had been reported so far.
The health minister has directed the concerned DHOs, medical superintendents of public hospitals and other health officers to ensure that every patient of leishmaniasis was treated with best health facilities.
He said that leishmaniasis treatment centres had been set up where patients were being treated under the guidelines of WHO in affected districts. Health teams and Lady Health Workers were also creating awareness in affected areas to sensitize the people to adopt precautionary measures, so as they may not suffer from the disease. Beside this, local authorities were also conducing fogging and providing bed nets in affected areas.
Health Minister Dr Hisham and Secretary Health Dr. Farooq Jameel were personally reviewing the health aid being provided to the victims of leishmaniasis, the statement said. He said that through precautionary measures people can protect themselves from the disease in affected areas.
A leishmaniasis disease outbreak has occurred in various regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and ex-FATA areas, including Peshawar, Karak, Mohmand, and Landi Kotal, where new cases have been reported almost every day.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of the disease. The skin infection occurs following the bite of the sand fly. It causes wounds, ulcers and scarring on skin. Sand flies are smaller than mosquitoes and do not make any noise, so it is almost impossible to hear or see them. The best prevention from the disease is sleeping under a mosquito net, sleeping indoors, maintaining good personal hygiene, and ensuring proper waste management, including covering manholes and proper disposal and removal of garbage.
Signs of the disease include painless sores or ulcer-like lesions which slowly enlarge. Lesions usually will not heal, even with antibiotics, and will often lead to severe disfigurement and wound infection.
A center for the treatment of the disease was set up at Naseerullah Babar Hospital by the Directorate of Health Department in collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières in May 2017. The hospital’s report also says patient flow has not slowed since 2019 began. Most patients are residents of Peshawar, while a few are from tribal areas, as well as Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2019.