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The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has asked the states to adopt a two-pronged strategy for elimination of Kala-Azar in the country. Addressing a review meeting on Kala-Azar control programme called here today to discuss with the State Health Ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, the Minister said that there is an urgent need for close monitoring and supervision of programme implementation at all levels with appropriate micro planning in consultation with inter-sectoral partners including civil society organizations so that there is ownership of the programme and equal participation by them to fight the disease.
Expressing concern over the rising incidents of Kala-Azar cases in the country, the Minister said that Government is providing 100 % assistance in cash and kind to four endemic states namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal under the Kala-Azar control programme for insecticides and anti-kala-azar medicines as well as resource based IEC, capacity building and case search activities. He underlined the need for a commitment in this regard and said that goals would only be achieved if there are conscious efforts on part of the states in respect of effective programme implementation and continual monitoring.
Earlier, while addressing the meeting, the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi stated that Kala-azar is not only a major health problem but also a cause of continuing poverty. She said that Government of India in its National Health Policy-2002 has committed elimination of Kala-azar by 2010 toward improving life of the citizens and paving a healthy nation. She said that there is need for programme implementation on a mission mode by the affected states. Accountability of the Government health care delivery systems need to be ensured by strengthening the public health care delivery services and building effective inter-sectoral partnerships, the Minister added.
The Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Shri Prasanna Hota, DG, Health Services, Dr. S.P. Agrawal, and the DG (NACO) Dr. S.Y. Quraishi also addressed the meeting.
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