Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a skin infection caused by a parasite transmitted by the bite of a phlebotomine sandfly, is a public health burden and considered to be a neglected tropical disease in Pakistan. Although not life threatening, CL can cause severe physical disfigurement that leads to stigmatization and discrimination. The first-line treatment for CL is meglumine antimoniate. The drug is not yet locally produced in Pakistan; hence, the health authorities have to rely largely on international actors such as WHO and MSF for its imports. Due to insufficient availability of the drug at public hospitals and a lack of trained professionals, the doses being administered to patients are often inadequate.

MSF opened a new cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment centre in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in May 2018. The centre has been supporting the health system by providing CL patients with specialized diagnostic and treatment facilities, ensuring a steady supply of safe and effective medication, and increasing awareness about treatment and prevention.

In first 13 months of operations, the centre provided treatment to XX patients of cutaneous leishmaniasis. It has been working at its full capacity with ratio of patients constantly increasing with time, which shows the high needs in the area. MSF has also started outreach session in Peshawar districts to address the lack of community awareness about treatment of CL.

About 28,000 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis have been reported since November 2018. Following a recent outbreak in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially South Waziristan, people have reported to Bannu or even to the provincial capital of Peshawar. MSF conducted an assessment in district Bannu in April 2019, and MSF is has just opened another treatment centre at Bannu district headquarter hospital to address the high needs in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the tribal areas merged to KP province last year.