The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) renovated a leishmaniasis centre in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province and handed it over to Afghan authorities, a press release of the alliance said here Tuesday.

"Regional Command North Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) soldiers handed over the newly renovated Leishmaniasis Centre at the Balkh Provincial Hospital to Afghan physicians recently," the press release said.

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease which is prevalent worldwide and can be fatal.

The project was financed with approximately 45,000 Euro, in close cooperation with the German ISAF soldiers, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Reconstruction Loan Corporation, it further said.

More than 3,800 German soldiers have been serving in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led ISAF to strengthen security in this war-torn country.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2009)