KARACHI, Jan 27: It is likely that health authorities in Pakistan would join hands with their counterparts in Iran and India in an extensive aerial spray of pesticide to eliminate sand flies which cause leishmaniasis
, a skin disease, to a considerable number of people every year in the country.
Sources in the Sindh health department said that a meeting of experts and health officials from the three countries to discuss the sandflies problem was on the cards. The feasibility of a joint and simultaneous aerial spray in the identified areas would be focus of the participants.
Breaking out of the cutaneous leishmaniasis in the boarder districts of Sindh and Balochistan, where the vector sandflies invade the hilly areas in summers, has become a regular feature.
About 4,200 people had been afflicted with the disease in Sindh, particularly in the hilly tract of Dadu and Larkana. The cases of sandfly bite are usually reported during December-March period.
This year, as reported by different EDOs (Health) till January 26, a total of 6,525 cases have been recorded in the seven districts - Dadu (4,568), Sukkur (375), Khairpur (82), Naushehro Feroze (85), Larkana (870), Shikarpur (184), and Jacobabad (361). An increase of 407 cases was recorded from January 20 to 24 while another 338 and 335 were reported on January 25 and 26, respectively.
It is feared that the number of people affected by leishmaniasis could triple by the end of March, as against the last year's figure, added a source, saying that in view of the existing trend, the concerned EDOs had been asked to be more vigilant and ensure a timely availability of anti-leishmaniasis injections, the only source of relief to such patients.
Provincial Health Secretary Prof Naushad A. Shaikh told Dawn that the health department was also looking for some other options to overcome the problem. He said that the proposal of importing relevant medicines in tablet form for oral consumption was also under consideration.
"Since the sandfly phenomenon prevails in the areas of Pakistan, Iran and India, discussions are also on for a joint action in the region. I have already talked to some India-based experts on the issue; whereas a moot in Iran on leishmaniasis has also been planned, probably in March,'' said Mr Shaikh.
He said that Sindh alone was not in a position to eliminate sandfly, or prevent its invasion in our part of the world, by taking measures like the much-stressed aerial spray within our territory.
It was, therefore, suggested that the all the three countries facing the chronic problem should undertake the operation jointly. Additional Health Secretary (technical), Dr Shafqat Hussain Abbasi said that the sandfly originating from Iran travelled to Sindh via Balochistan.
The parasite (leishmania) transmitted to human bodies incubate for six months and then appears as a worm in the body which could normally be treated with three/four doses of glutamine injection. In severe cases, seven or more doses are required to be injected, according to Dr Abbasi.
In reply to a question, he said that the government had not allocated any separate funds for the treatment of leishmaniasis patients but districts could arrange for the treatment through their respective sanctions for health.
He said that Jacobabad, Dadu and Larkana were regarded as being among the worst-affected areas whereas the cases reported from some other areas appeared to be of the leishmaniasis patients moving from the same districts.
Leishmaniasis is not a non-communicable disease and it could subside or disappear without medical treatment in due course of time. "By the time the worm in a human body is detected, the flies go into hiding,'' observed Dr Abbasi.
