New Delhi, February 16 (PIB):  Union Minister of Health and Family WelfareDr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that India is committed to eliminating Kala Azar from the country by 2023. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the status of kala Azar in the four endemic states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, he said that the Centre is working closely with the state governments and other stakeholders to achieve elimination in these affected states.

 

The Union Health Minister appreciated the efforts of the State Governments towards meeting elimination target. He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, it remains our target to ensure health for all citizens.

The government, through concrete houses under Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (PMAY), rural electrification, timely testing, treatment, period high-level review, etc., has created a robust ecosystem for early detection of the disease, followed by timely treatment. Besides, the government of India is supporting states in active case detection, surveillance, treatment, supply of diagnostic kits, medicines, sprays, etc.

Dr.Mandaviya said that while it is commendable that the endemic states are implementing the targeted interventions like concrete houses, rural electrification, it is equally important to sustain the gain and work towards ensuring that the cases remain below 1 case/ 10,000 population.

He urged the endemic states to ensure that there is a regular review and micro-stratification in high-risk blocks reporting incidence > 0.5 per 10,000 populations. “Since Kala-azar impacts those among the lower socio-economic strata of society, early diagnosis & complete case management, integrated control and surveillance along with capacity building of human resource must be taken up on ground level”, he suggested. “For spreading public awareness, information regarding messages on prolonged fever, associated symptoms and free access to diagnosis and treatment and compensations/incentives, other government interventions are required to be widely disseminated through various mediums”, he further added.

Dr.BharatiPravinPawar, MoS (HFW) commended the states on their efforts and urged them to ensure that “Transmission through the notorious sandfly be prevented at any cost. Awareness campaigns regarding the symptoms, early detection and treatment available free of charge at Government health facilities are required to be strengthened for enabling early reporting by the affected persons”.

States informed about the status of disease in their respective states and shared their best practices too. The State Health Ministers expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Centre for detection, surveillance, treatment through various interventions. Health Ministers of states where elimination status is achieved assured to continue working in Mission mode to ensure that the stats is sustained.

About 90% of global cases of kala Azar were reported from eight countries: Brazil, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan in 2021, with India contributing 11.5% of total cases reported globally. Kala-azar is endemic in 633 blocks of 54 districts in four endemic states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It is a notifiable disease in these states. Currently, more than 90% of the Kala-azar cases are contributed by Bihar and Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh (2019) and West Bengal (2017) states have achieved their elimination targets at the block level.

 

Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary Rajiv Manjhi, and other senior officials of the Health Ministry were present. Senior government officials serving in the States/UTs, NGOs and development partners were also present virtually.