Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are two serious public health problems on the Indian subcontinent, causing high morbidity and mortality. The governments in the region have launched elimination initiative for both these diseases. The Govt of India (GOI) goal is to eliminate LF and VL, i.e. Reduce annual incidence of the disease to less than threshold levels at the sub district (block) level.
CARE, through generous funding from BMGF, is providing strategic leadership and on-ground implementation support to the overall VL control activities in Bihar and Jharkhand in close partnership with respective departments of State Government and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP).
This is the third phase of the Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL, or kala azar) program, this phase grant aims to consolidate the work of strengthening systems to accelerate progress towards elimination and to support sustaining it thereafter, building on the current momentum in the program to aim for “elimination of VL as a public health problem”, reaching an annual incidence of below 1/10000 in all blocks by 2020 as presently defined.
With Generous support of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CARE’s is starting a project on elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. The two key strategies for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) are: Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and Morbidity Management & Disability Prevention (MMDP).
The strategic goal and primary outcome of the project is to support the Government of Bihar and Government of Jharkhand to attain sustainable elimination of LF in the two states. The project started in October 2021 and will continue till September 2024.
