WHO’s Framework for Kala Azar | 15 Jun 2024
Due to the growing health threat of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) (Kala-azar), the World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new framework to help eradicate the disease in eastern Africa.
- The framework outlines five main strategies for guiding VL elimination:
- Early diagnosis and treatment
- Integrated vector management
- Effective surveillance
- Advocacy, social mobilisation and partnership-building
- Implementation and operational research
- Visceral leishmaniasis is a slow-progressing indigenous disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania.
- It spreads through the bite of infected female sandflies and can prove to be deadly if not treated timely.
- VL leads to fever, weight loss, and enlargement of the spleen and liver.
- It is endemic to 80 countries, however, In 2022, eastern Africa accounted for 73% of global VL caseload, 50% of which occurred in children aged under 15 years.
- In 2023, Bangladesh became the first country in the world to eradicate VL.
- In India, Leishmania donovani is the only parasite causing this disease.
- Recently, India has also successfully achieved its target to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis (initial target year was 2010, but it was extended until 2023).
- It spreads through the bite of infected female sandflies and can prove to be deadly if not treated timely.