Steps taken towards elimination of Kala-Azar

To achieve the Kala-azar elimination goal by 2017 set by the WHO, the following steps have been taken:

1.      National Roadmap for Kala-azar Elimination (2014) has been circulated to states with clear goal, objectives, strategies, timelines with activities and functions at appropriate level. This document has been developed for focused intervention at national, state, district and sub-district  and village levels.

2.      Treatment of Kala-azar patient with single day single dose Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmBisome) injection has improved treatment compliance. Unintrupted  free supply of AmBisome  is ensured by WHO.

3.      Regular supply of diagnostic kit (rapid diagnostic test) and drugs in states is ensured.

4.      Funds are provided to states for incentive of Rs. 500/- to Kala-azar patient   and Rs. 2,000/- to PKDL case from GoI  to compensate loss of wages.

5.      Incentive of Rs. 300/- to ASHA /health volunteer  to bring Kala- azar suspected case to health facility and to ensure  complete treatment. ASHA is also being paid Rs. 200/- during  indoor residual spray for social mobilization and community acceptance to allow spray in their rooms.

6.      Active search of Kala azar and  Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) case and IEC/BCC with the help of development partners.

7.      In 21 high endemic districts of Bihar (15 districts), Jharkhand (4 districts) and West Bengal (2 districts), DDT has been replaced by Syenthetic Pyrethroid where vector showed tolerance towards DDT. All endemic Kala-azar villages are covered with focal spray where new case is found during non IRS period. Hand Compression pumps are being used for spraying.

8. Govt. of India is closely working with development partners like  Bill Melinda Gates Foundation(BMGF); KalaCORE Consortium; Rajendra Memorial Research Institute (RMRI); National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Patna and World Health Organisation (WHO) for achieving the desired goal of elimination.

9.  The Kala-azar Elimintion is being reviewed on monthly basis by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and higher officials of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Programme is striving hard to achieve elimination within the target set by WHO. With the supportive monitoring, regular reviews and  field visits, 502 (80%) blockPHCs out of 625 endemic block PHCs have shown less than one case per 10,000 population in 2015 at block PHC level.

The funds allocated for the vector borne disease control programme including Kala-azar elimination under NVBDCP  during the last four years and current year are given below:

                                                                                    (Rs. In Lakhs)

Year	Bihar	Jharkhand	West Bengal	Uttar Pradesh
2011-12	4096.92	482.76	282.24	187.32
2012-13	5009.80	113.45	195.39	153.76
2013-14	1150.98	319.34	212.89	38.32
2014-15	3740.02	784.49	410.49	230.33
2016-16*	5432.14	3053.37	713.42	1724.31

         *Released under NVBDCP upto 31.01.2016

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.

Courtersy: pib.nic.in