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 Technical factors:
1. Human
beings are the only reservoir host and P. argentipes
the only vector for the disease in SEA Region.
2. The
disease in SEA Region continues to be
limited to 109 districts in the three countries which makes elimination
feasible.
3. The
vector continues to be sensitive to DDT. Kala azar was virtually eliminated from the region during the
malaria eradication era in response to spraying with DDT. The disease
returned after relaxation withdrawal of the spraying operations.
4. We
now have new tools for diagnosis and treatment are available. The new oral
drug, Miltefosine, for the treatment of kala-azar, is a great improvement over the painful, injectable drugs. Research supported by TDR in
collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and Pharmaceutical
Industry resulted in the regulatory approval of the product for use in kala-azar. Alternate drugs are also now available with
encouraging results. At the same time reliable diagnosis can be made by the
rapid test ‘rk39’. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease can move to the
community and health centers.
Administrative factors:
1. All endemic member countries have existing
infrastructure including manpower to inplement
the elimination programme
2. Fund
has been allocated for Kala-azar elimination. eg. India
Political Commitment :
There is high level political commitment. The health
ministers from Bangladesh, India and Nepal have resolved to eliminate kala-azar and signed a memorandum of understanding in May
2005, in Geneva.
RELEVANCE OF
KALA-AZAR ELIMINATION TO MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (2015)
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases
Goal 8: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and
other major diseases.
Prioritized intensification of control of neglected
tropical diseases will contribute directly to the reduction of the
communicable disease burden (Goal 6 Target 8) and indirectly to efforts to
reduce poverty and hunger (Goal 1).
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