Leishmaniasis out of control, infected 27,000 people in Balochistan

Health Desk:

QUETTA: Leishmaniasis is currently out of control in Balochistan and it affected over 27,000 people. “The disease has affected 24 districts of Balochistan”, Dr. Noor Qazi, the Director-General of Health said.

Zhob, Chaman, and Killa Abdullah are the worst-hit districts of Balochistan. “We have no injections to control the rampant disease”, Dr. Noor Qazi lamented. The price per leishmaniasis injection in the market is Rs.2000. Every person cannot buy in rural Balochistan.

The health department has not launched spray in districts to control the disease. The DG health stated that if the timely spray was not conducted, the leishmaniasis can increase to a dangerous level.

“We have approached WHO in this regard”, Noor ul Haq Baloch says

“Health department has approached the World Health Organization in this regard”, Noor ul Haq Baloch, the Secretary of Health Balochistan said. He said WHO and MSF have assured provision of leishmaniasis injections to the provincial health department to overcome the situation.

DG Health Balochistan, Dr. Noor Qazi also chaired a meeting regarding the outbreak of leishmaniasis in various parts of the province. Representatives of WHO, UNICEF, MSF, and others also attended the meeting. Dr. Asfandyar of the WHO informed the participants of the meeting that his organization was establishing three centers for leishmaniasis patients.

Centers for leishmaniasis patients to be set up

“The centers would be established at Zhob, Killa Saifullah and Loralai”, he mentioned. In the future such centers would also be established in Washuk, Lasbella and Naseerabad, Dr. Asfandyar told the meeting. The meeting decided to expedite the pace of preparation to overcome the rampant leishmaniasis disease.

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.