PurposeInappropriate application of pesticides is quite common in the study area, causing health issues and in some cases fatalities. The intent of the current study is to gauge the farmers’ level of knowledge on the safe usage of pesticides and biosafety to keep the famers healthy through the focused extension programs.MethodologyThe study is carried out in 41 union councils of Tehsil Sahiwal, District Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan. Data are collected through a cluster sampling technique by conducting face-to-face interviews. Statistical analysis is used to determine relationships and interpret them.ResultsThe findings show that the majority of farmers (87.2%) earn their livelihoods from farming and 2.1% are traders. More than half of the respondents (51.8%) own small land-holdings with an area of 4–8 ha, with only 16.4% having a land area of more than 12 ha. The results also reveal that the majority of respondents obtain information from private agents and only about one third (34.4%) respondents get information on the safe usage of pesticides from the Department of Agriculture (Extension). The internet has emerged as a fast and reliable source of information in the new paradigm; however, only 14.4% of the respondents take advantage of this economical and fast information tool/medium. The findings also reveal that the farmers employ unhealthy and poor practices by not following the recommendations regarding the safe usage of pesticides. The study also reveals that more than half of the farmers (54.4%) use unsafe storage practices on their farms, and about 48.2% do not follow the instructions.ConclusionsInappropriate application of pesticides can have negative effects on human health and the adoption safety measures are necessary to avoid the harmful effects of pesticides. Due to high illiteracy in the area, farmers mainly seek advice of neighboring farmers, having ignorance on the biosafety issues. Variables like education level, land ownership, total land size and the trainings on safe pesticide usage significantly influence the knowledge level of farmers on the safe usage of pesticides.RecommendationsFarmers do not follow the recommendations of the extension department or the instructions printed on pesticide bottles/containers, therefore educational (formal and informal) and training programs are necessary on the safe pesticide usage to upgrade their skills and expertise on safe usage of pesticides and the importance of biosafety.

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Background: The spread of artemisinin resistance in the Greater Mekong Subregion of Southeast Asia poses a significant threat for current anti-malarial treatment guidelines globally. The aim of this study was to assess the current prevalence of molecular markers of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in the four provinces with the highest malaria burden in Pakistan, after introducing artemether-lumefantrine as first-line treatment in 2017. Methods: Samples were collected during routine malaria surveillance in Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan between January 2018 and February 2019. Plasmodium falciparum infections were confirmed by rapid diagnostic test or microscopy. Plasmodium falciparum positive isolates (n = 179) were screened by Sanger sequencing for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P. falciparum kelch 13 (pfk13) propeller domain and in P. falciparum coronin (pfcoronin). SNPs in P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (pfmdr1) N86Y, Y184F, D1246Y and P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) K76T were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: No artemisinin resistance associated SNPs were identified in the pfk13 propeller domain or in pfcoronin. The pfmdr1 N86, 184F, D1246 and pfcrt K76 alleles associated with reduced lumefantrine sensitivity were present in 83.8% (150/179), 16.9% (29/172), 100.0% (173/173), and 8.4% (15/179) of all infections, respectively. The chloroquine resistance associated pfcrt 76T allele was present in 98.3% (176/179) of infections. Conclusion: This study provides an update on the current prevalence of molecular markers associated with reduced P. falciparum sensitivity to artemether and/or lumefantrine in Pakistan, including a first baseline assessment of polymorphisms in pfcoronin. No mutations associated with artemisinin resistance were observed in pfk13 or pfcoronin. However, the prevalence of the pfmdr1 N86 and D1246 alleles, that have been associated with decreased susceptibility to lumefantrine, remain high. Although clinical and molecular data suggest that the current malaria treatment guidelines for P. falciparum are presently effective in Pakistan, close monitoring for artemisinin and lumefantrine resistance will be critical to ensure early detection and enhanced containment of emerging ACT resistance spreading across from Southeast Asia.

Malaria is second most life threatening disease in the world. It shows highest morbidity rate among serious illness including tuberculosis etc. Pakistan is at high risk of this disease giving very rise high frequency of Malaria victims in rural areas of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. Due to its severe epidemics in specific regions they are termed as malarious areas of a country. Objectives: Main purpose of the study was to find out prevalence (p-value) of malaria in local community of FR Bannu region visited to basic health clinics. Study Design: In current survey based epidemiological descriptive study, we analyzed valuable data of malaria epidemic and its prevalence in selected areas of FATA (FR Bannu) region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa via questionnaire & personal interaction. Study Period: The study was conducted in the months of June 2014 to August 2014. Material & Methods: Followed questionnaire against gender, age, seasonal, area & specie wise protocol survey. Results: Results showed (P > 0.05) ranging variables including high number of plasmodium vivax strain over plasmodium falciparum, gender comparison was dominant by male against females, age wise effect of pathogenic strain upon infants and old aged peoples, seasonal occurrence and its prevalence was less in cold months and in start of summer season where the data of rural areas was at its peak risk. Conclusion: It is concluded that pregnant ladies and infants are at high risk in such areas, so more care and control programs for malaria eradication are needed in selected areas of Pakistan.