Millions of displaced Iraqis have been returning home, following a victory declared by the government over ISIL. However, many of those back home are confronted with damaged living conditions and inadequate services, which pose threats to people's health. In the fourth part of CGTN's Iraq in Recovery series, reporter Meng Qingsheng visits a rehabilitated health center in Diyala Province, where thousands of people are coping with an infectious disease, known as "Baghdad Boil".

An outbreak of "Baghdad Boil", is now taking hold of al-Udhaim in Diyala province. In January, some 500 cases were recorded. Hannah is taking her seven-month-old daughter for treatment. A total of six people in her family have developed the symptoms. She says, the disease is upsetting everyone.

HANNAH UM HUSSEIN AL-UDHAIM, DIYALA RESIDENT "I've taken my daughter to this hospital three times. In the beginning, it's like a bite, then it got worse and worse. So I decided to bring her here to get treated. I come once a week, to give her injections."

"Baghdad Boil" is the common name for cutaneous Leishmaniasis. The skin infection is caused by Leishmania parasites, transmitted by sand fly bites.

MENG QINGSHENG AL-UDHAIM, DIYALA "Every day, this health center sees a huge influx of patients with "Baghdad Boil". The initial phase brings a lot of suffering, as it causes pain and itchiness, and even when it's healed, a scar will be left there forever."

Without treatment, the disease takes several months or even years to heal. 12-year-old Safaa is worried about his prolonged suffering.

SAFAA SAEED AHMED AL- UDHAIM, DIYALA RESIDENT "It has been four to five months since it appeared for the first time. I have severe pains and bleeding sometimes, especially during sleep.”

Qahtan is a medical assistant working at the health care center. He shares his reasons for the disease outbreak.

QAHTAN HADI HUSSEIN, MEDICAL ASSISTANT AL-UDHAIM PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER "This place was deserted for a while during the conflict. When the displaced people returned, there's no sanitation measure. That's why the disease has an outbreak. Many people have been treated at this hospital, but we see new cases arising over and over again."

Al-Udhaim was seized by ISIL militants in June 2014. Incessant bombings destroyed the town's only hospital. In March 2017, the International Red Cross began recovery efforts to meet rising medical demands.

HUDA SATTAR ICRC MEDICAL FIELD OFFICER "This primary health center al-Udhaim, is the only health center 30 kilometers away from the center of the Diyala Governorate. It serves around 40 thousand populations, previously, they were working in a tent, with primitive health services, poor sanitation, crowded place, they were working under the firefighting, providing this facility to the people.”

The medical center is well-equipped to provide preventive and curative care for local residents. But for now, it has to work out a better way to contain the spell of "Baghdad Boil". Meng Qingsheng, CGTN, Al-Udhaim, Diyala.