Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India chaired a review meeting through video conferencing for the eradication of Kala-azar in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Health Minister of Jharkhand, Banna Gupta, along with health ministers of other states and high level officials participated in this meeting. In the meeting Dr. Mandaviya also inaugurated the video message given by Indian cine artist Manoj Bajpayee on Kala-azar.

On this occasion, the message given by the Prime Minister, Government of India in his Mann Ki Baat programme was also narrated, in which he said “control of sand fly and early detection and complete treatment of Kala-azar disease” is very necessary. Dr. Mandaviya, in his address, directed that the supply of essential medicines is ensured by the Central Government, but their implementation will have to be ensured by the State.

In the programme, Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar, State Health and Family Welfare Minister, Government of India, said that for the total eradication of Kala-azar disease, there is a need to work under a well-planned strategy of identification of Kala-azar patients. He suggested that the new initiative of Jharkhand, in which intensive surveillance is done in rural areas through ambulances, can be adopted by other states as well.