Six East African countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) through enhanced regional cooperation. The agreement focuses on cross-border collaboration and resource sharing to tackle this neglected tropical disease.

What is Kala -Azar?

Visceral leishmaniasis, the most severe form of leishmaniasis also known as kala-azar, is a life-threatening disease caused by Leishmania parasites which are transmitted by female sandflies. Visceral leishmaniasis causes fever, weight loss, spleen and liver enlargement, and, if not treated, death.

Kala-azar (KA), a word coined in the late nineteenth century in India, which means “black disease”, referring to the greyish or blackish discoloration of the skin during infection, from the Hindi word for black (kala) and the Persian word for disease (azar).

Key Highlights:

1. Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan signed the MoU at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
2. The initiative is supported by the World Health Organization, African Union, and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.
3. Over 70% of global kala-azar cases occur in Eastern Africa, with many affected being children under 15 years old.
4. The MoU aligns with the Eastern Africa Visceral Leishmaniasis Elimination Framework launched in 2024.
5. Regional leaders have issued a Call for Action to strengthen efforts against neglected tropical diseases through cooperation.