KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Malaria and Leishmaniasis Center in southeastern Khost province says that 1,785 cases of leishmaniasis were registered in the province during the first three quarters of last solar year.
Dr. Gulab Jan, Khost Malaria and Leishmaniasis Center head, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 3,669 people referred to the center for diagnosis of malaria in the first three quarters of last year.
He said that 480 of these people were diagnosed positive with malaria and were treated on time.
However, he said that the number of positive cases of leishmaniasis has increased compared to malaria.
Gulab Jan says that in the last three quarters of 1400 solar year, they recorded 1,785 cases of leishmaniasis.
“The cases of malaria have decreased compared to the cases in previous years, but the cases of leishmaniasis have increased because its treatment takes a long time and patients face shortage of medicine,” he said.
He said that the main reason for reduction in positive malaria cases was public awareness and prevention of the disease, one of which was the use of mosquito nets.
However, he said that the campaign for distribution of mosquito nets by aid agencies had stalled since last two years.
“If mosquito nets are redistributed in the capital and districts of Khost, it would help reduce malaria cases to half,” he said.
Gulab Jan said that besides the Malaria and Leishmaniasis Center, all the district health clinics also had the medical equipment and medicines related to the diagnosis and treatment of malaria and leishmaniasis.
For better control of these diseases, people need to be more cautious and stay away from unclean places, he said.
This comes as Khost and Nangarhar provinces have higher cases of malaria and leishmaniasis compared to other regions of the country.
mds/ma
Views: 128