Tackling The Kala-Azar Menance in Bihar

Kala-azar, i.e. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a menace to the state of Bihar, affecting a large chunk of population. One-third cases of Kala-azar are reported from Bihar itself, as per report of WHO. Diagnosis and case detections are done by rk39. Miltefosine has been rolled out in 16 highly endemic districts of Bihar, whereas other districts have the coverage of Amphotericin B. and Sodium Stibo Gluconate as the treatment drugs.What is more perplexing is the spreading of Kala-azar foci to the newer districts in the State of Bihar, which were previously completely free from the disease.In addition to the Department of Health of the Govt. of Bihar, many developmental partners are also working in the State towards Kala-azar elimination, but to our dismay, each of them is working in an isolation. What is needed here is a systematic and integrated approach towards tackling the menace of the disease.The aim of this work is to draw the attention of readers as well as policymakers to secure integration of the solitary efforts towards elimination of Kala-azar at one platform and to enforce newer evidence based strategies in the State.