The number of Kala Azar patients in the district is only 63, but prevention is the main solution!
Siwan (Bihar): To protect the residents of the district from Kala Azar, a disease caused by the bite of infected sandfly, the Health Department has started Kala Azar spraying campaign in selected villages in all the blocks of the district. District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer Dr. Maniraj Ranjan said that if we talk about VL, PKDL and HIV-VL patients, there were 186 in 2021, 108 in 2022, while only 63 patients were identified in 2023. Which has been treated by the Health Department. However, with the aim of eradicating it from the root, Kala Azar spraying work is going on in 3, 67, 462 rooms of 1, 11, 268 houses of 5, 87, 671 population in 179 revenue villages of 123 panchayats of the district. Spraying is done twice a year in the affected areas.
Decreasing number of Kala-azar patients means Kala-azar free campaign is successful: VBDCO
Vector Born Disease Control Officer (VBDCO) Rajesh Kumar said that a spraying campaign of synthetic parathyroid (SP) has been started in such potential kala-azar affected villages of the district. Where potential kala-azar patients have been found in the last three years. There are complaints of blackening of the skin of someone's hands, feet and stomach, which is called a patient suffering from Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) kala-azar. Because mainly Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a skin disease that occurs after kala-azar. But kala-azar can be easily treated in all the health centers of the district. For which, during the spraying campaign, such patients will also be searched in the areas and those people will be sent to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment. The number of kala-azar patients in the district is gradually decreasing, which means that the kala-azar free campaign is moving towards success.
Financial assistance is given to patients undergoing treatment in the form of labor compensation: Dr. Maniraj Ranjan
District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer (DVBDCO) Dr Maniraj Ranjan informed that along with treatment to Kala Azar patients in government hospital, the government also provides financial assistance to Kala Azar infected patients in the form of labor compensation. The government also provides Rs 7100 as labor compensation to the patient suffering from Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Kala Azar. This amount is given as Rs 500 by the Government of India and Rs 6600 by the State Government as Chief Minister's incentive under Kala Azar Relief Campaign. Whereas, the state government provides Rs 4000 as labor compensation to the patient suffering from Post Kala Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) Kala Azar.
Kala Azar sand flies thrive more in places with excessive moisture and darkness: District representative
Kundan Kumar, district representative of Piramal Health, said that Kala Azar disease is caused by sandfly bites. Kala Azar flies spread more in places with high humidity and darkness, but it is easily possible to treat patients suffering from it. However, this disease also spreads from one person to another. Fever for more than two weeks, increase in stomach size, lack of appetite, vomiting, blackening of the skin, and many other symptoms are the main symptoms of Kala Azar disease. Patients with such symptoms are placed in the category of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Kala Azar. If such symptoms are felt in the body, it is necessary to get the affected patient examined immediately. Even after getting treatment, it is very important for the affected patient to remain safe.
