India, its neighbours to take on kala-azar

India, Nepal and Bangladesh join forces to eradicate kala-azar, or visceral leishmaniasis, a fly-transmitted disease affecting 1 lakh people in the region each year.

Health Ministers of the three countries signed an MoU at the 58th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, agreeing to establish a taskforce for collaboration on resource mobilisation, exchange of information and strengthening inter-sectoral cooperation and research. A multi-pronged strategy has been devised based on ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, strengthening disease and vector surveillance and integrated vector management.