SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Around 255 leishmaniasis cases have been reported from various areas of the district, a senior health official said on Monday.

District health officer Dr Adnan said the health department was closely monitoring the situation and was providing necessary treatment facilities in the affected areas.

He said that injections used for the treatment of leishmaniasis, including Glucantime, were available at the district health office and the District Headquarters Hospital, Wana. The official added that efforts were being made to ensure that patients received timely treatment.

He stressed the need for awareness campaigns in the affected areas to inform people about the measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, residents of Azam Warsak and Shaheen Panga in Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan asked the health authorities to take steps to control the situation.

They said the skin disease was spreading in rural areas, with children being the most affected ones. The situation, they maintained, had created anxiety among families, fearing the disease could spread if preventive measures were not taken.

Residents said that limited healthcare facilities and difficulties in accessing timely medical treatment worsened the situation in the remote areas. They said that many affected families were struggling to reach hospitals, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment.

They demanded that the government and health authorities take urgent steps to provide proper treatment facilities to the people.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2026