SPEAK India - Setting the Post-Elimination Agenda for Kala-Azar in India
Introduction
In the Indian subcontinent, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious public health problem. Whilst some areas have achieved this goal already, others have not, and yet others have seen a recent resurgence of disease incidence. The Indian government of India has set a target for elimination of VL as a public health problem on the Indian subcontinent in 2017.
SPEAK India consortium brings together researchers and technical experts alike, with an aim to develop a consensus on the additional knowledge required to ensure VL transmission is successfully interrupted and elimination is sustained. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and facilitated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In the Indian subcontinent, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious public health problem. Whilst some areas have achieved this goal already, others have not, and yet others have seen a recent resurgence of disease incidence. The Indian government of India has set a target for elimination of VL as a public health problem on the Indian subcontinent in 2017.
SPEAK India consortium brings together researchers and technical experts alike, with an aim to develop a consensus on the additional knowledge required to ensure VL transmission is successfully interrupted and elimination is sustained. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and facilitated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
By developing protocols, actions and methodologies, analysing new and existing data, and formulating research questions, SPEAK India intends to facilitate the creation of an improved programme for VL management that ensures rapid diagnosis, treatment and vector control in new or recurring foci to sustain elimination.
Three themes have been Identifies under SPEAK India consortium meet namely, Surveillance, Health Systems, Transmission.
Institute of Public Health Bangalore will be heading the Health System theme under which a detailed proposal will be developed to address the issue.
Funders
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Study Team
Vaibhav
Vamsi Krishna
