ISLAMABAD, March 20: The ministry of health is in touch with the provincial authorities to monitor and control the spread of leishmaniasis, a deforming skin disease, reported in some districts of the country.

The National Assembly was told in a written statement that the ministry was also coordinating with the World Health Organization for provision of technical assistance. A health education campaign has been launched to create awareness of sandfly bites, responsible for the spread of the disease.

Other vector control measures have also undertaken, including spraying of insecticides in the affected areas. The directorate of malaria control has dispatched insecticide-treated nets to the affected areas of Dadu.

WHO and the health ministry have also carried out a second assessment mission in NWFP recently where 5,000 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis had been reported in Kurram and other agencies. The epidemiological pattern of the report suggested anthroponotic transmission (man to man) through the sandfly vector.

The mission had assessed that 15,000 vials of petavalent antimonials (first-line drugs) were needed immediately to treat the cases.

The mission had also recommended a plan of action to involve the health ministry, WHO, UNHCR and nongovernmental organizations in the area to cover the training of local health workers and translation of the guidelines into local languages, intensify surveillance and vector control activities.

The NWFP health department had also reported 738 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kurram Agency.

Majority of the cases were in children under the age of 15 in addition to 1,500 cases reported in Afghan refugee camps in the country.

To another question, the house was informed that two complaints had been received from members of the parliament from November 2002 to January 31, 2004, against mismanagement and malpractice in the dispensaries of the Parliament House and Parliament Lodges.

One case was reported against the in-charge of medical store of the Federal Government Services Hospital during the same period.

Medical officer in-charge of the Parliament House, dispenser in-charge of the Parliament Lodges and store-keeper in-charge FGSH medical store were suspended.

The FIA was also asked to investigate these allegations in order to streamline provision of medical facilities.

Courtesy centres have been established in the FGSH and Pims for parliamentarians, it was further stated.