Kala Azar Elimination Program (Challenges)

2014 - Anant Dev Asheesh

Contents

Kala Azar-

1. What is Kala Azar?

2. rk39 test

3. Challenges

What is Kala Azar?

• Kala-azar is caused by a protozoan parasite of genus Leishmania

• In India, Leishmania donovani is the only parasite that causes this disease

• Phlebotomus Argentipes (Female sandfly) is the vector which spreads the disease

He is the person who discovered

this disease

Enlarged picture of Sandfly

6

Clinical Diagnosis of Kala Azar

• A case of fever of more than 2 weeks duration not responding to anti-malarials and antibiotics.

• Pain abdomen (Stomach-ache)

• Splenomegaly (Enlargement of spleen)

• Hepatomegaly (Enlargement of liver)

• Loss of weight

• Anorexia (loss of apetite)

rk39 Test

• Remove the test strip from the pouch or the vial

• With a new lancet, prick the fingertip of the patient suspected to be suffering from kala azar. Used lancets should not be re-used because of the risk of transmitting HIV and Hepatitis B&C.

• Let the blood come out on its own. Do not use pressure or squeezing for obtaining blood.

• Place one drop of blood on the absorbent pad of the strip bottom.

• Place the test strip into a test tube so that the end of the strip is facing downwards. This would encourage the blood to migrate upwards by capillary action.

• Add 2-3 drops of buffer solution provided with the kit to the pad.

• Read the results in 10 minutes. Do not read the results before or after 10 minutes. If the time period of 10 minutes is not adhered to there are chances of mistake being made.

rk39 Test Result

Negative

Positive

9

Challenges 1. Begging in Squads. They ask for

Rice or Vegetables in return of Spray which they did in houses. This happens because they have low wages and it is a way of saving their food expense

2. Squad has to cross river to go to other villages

2.2 Sometimes they get boat for which they have

to pay by themselves

3. Leaking gallons and buckets. They didn’t receive any tool kit to do minor repairs

4. Poor maintenance and condition of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE). Due to hot weather and poor quality of PPE squad does the spray without using PPE

5. Language Barrier while working with Tribes. It becomes difficult to convince tribes because of inability to communicate with them.

Thank

You