Afghanistan has long been a neglected nation by the rich countries but nowadays, a wave of leishmaniasis is being instrumental in gaining grounds of attention.
Leishmaniasis is a disease that is caused by a parasite transmitted by a tiny sandfly, which can lead to severe scarring, often on the face. The sorry state of affairs is that, the disease is not hitting the priority list of the government and aid donors, they have other things on their agenda like shocking rates of infant mortality, tuberculosis, malaria and trauma.
The most common form of the disease is not fatal but it causes untold misery. Victims with scarring on their faces are stigmatized: children are excluded at school and girls often won’t be able to find husbands.
Some foreign troops in Afghanistan and Iraq have also been bitten by sandflies and have developed the disease. NATO saw about 150 cases in Afghanistan in 2005 and about 12 similar cases last year.
‘Absolutely out of control’
The tentacles of leishmaniasis are rapidly engulfing the poor people of the province who are the most vulnerable group.
Experts are of the view that the problem is ‘absolutely out of control’. The deep ulcers caused by the parasites will heal if left untreated, but that invariably involves disfigurement and can take many months. That has given rise to one of the diseases many nicknames: saldana, or one-year sore.
Treatment:
The sores are treated with a course of injections, or cauterized to kill the parasites. Doctor Faquir Amin’s clinic has the only laser cauterizing machine in Afghanistan. Electric cauterizing machines are also effective and much cheaper.
Bed nets impregnated with insecticide are being distributed to stop malaria and they will also stop sandflies spreading leishmaniasis. But only a few nets are being distributed compared with the number needed.
Health officials in the province are saying that handling the epidemic is a tough job for them too because of the lack of funds. Hmm... it is really pathetic to see that the province gives preference to Opium Poppies and Religious fanaticism than taking care of their own citizens.
