BURDEN OF LEISHMANIASIS
Leishmaniasis is one of the most what
the WHO calls Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), because they are found only in
the world's poorest and most remote areas, and are characterized by the lack of
interest they command from the public. These diseases persist exclusively in
the poorest and the most marginalized communities; about 80 percent of the
people infected with NTDs live on less than USD 2 a day (WHO).
Leishmaniasis exists in three forms
(cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral) with a wide range of clinical symptoms.
Visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form of the disease, also known as
“kala azar” or “black sickness”, this infection attacks the internal organs and
is usually fatal within two years if left untreated. To date, there are no
available vaccines to prevent the disease.
As leishmaniasis is one of the most
serious diseases in many developing countries, it’s also considered as the
second biggest killer after malaria.
Leishmaniasis threatens 350 million
people worldwide with an overall prevalence of more than 12 million. Each year,
this disease infects more than two million people in 97 countries, with a
global mortality of 50,000-60,000 deaths/year.
According to the WHO, other disease
like HIV and TB cause outbreaks and large-scale deaths, which catch the
attention of the media, and the international community, but diseases like
leprosy or leishmaniasis affect only the poorest people, and thus are far from
the public eye, and thus are often forgotten. It highlights a growing problem
of Leishmaniasis/HIV Co-infection, as leishmaniasis accelerates the onset of
HIV.
LEISHMANIASIS IN YEMEN
Republic of Yemen is situated in the
Sothern-West corner of Asia, occupies 527,970 Km², and has a population of more
than 25,000,000. 76% of the population is living in scattered settlements and
villages, and 45% are living below the poverty line.
“Cutaneous leishmaniasis is widespread
in Yemen, but not fully documented. There is a need for a
multi-center study to evaluate the extent of the disease and diffusion of each
Leishmania responsible species”.
“Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in
Yemen. The diagnosis is mostly missed or delayed for months or years and some
patients are treated blindly”.
“Visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) was
first reported from the northern part of Yemen over 90 years ago. Sporadic
cases of the disease, however, are now widely reported from all over the
country”.
“Nearly 4047 cases of visceral
leishmaniasis, mostly in young children, have been reported during the last
decade”. Canine leishmaniasis was reported by Rioux et al. from human visceral
leishmaniasis focus in the Taiz area of Yemen”.
HIDDEN VICTIMS
Yemeni leishmaniasis patients suffer
from neglect, mis-diagnosis, maltreatment, lack of affordability of appropriate
medicine, and the shortage of the correct medication.
Once afflicted, those patients suffer
from serious complications such as social stigmatization, anxiety and
depression, deformity, disfigurement, disability and death without a recorded
cause! The situation is similar to that of leprosy decades ago!
Contact Details
Website
Facebook page
Email
RLCC@RLCCye.ORG
dralkamel@hotmail.com
Address
Regional Leishmaniasis Control Center
(RLCC), Al-Fakos Building, Jawlat Taiz, P.O.Box 12692, Sana'a, Yemen.
Link: http://rlccye.org/
