Kala Azar in Bihar

India: Addressing Healthcare Challenges for people living with HIV in Patna

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Bihar, India– Since 2019, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been actively working in Bihar to provide crucial support to individuals living with advanced HIV at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in Patna. This vulnerable population confronts numerous critical challenges, including: Limited access to essential medications Parent-to-child transmission Difficulties in accessing tertiary healthcare Discrimination in healthcare settings … Read more

Video: Explaining kala azar-HIV coinfection

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Kala azar or visceral leishmaniasis a neglected tropical disease and the second-largest parasitic killer in the world. India accounts for over 30% of the total kala azar cases in the world. 80% of these cases occur in Bihar. Since 2007, MSF is providing treatment for kala azar in Bihar. While there has been a sharp … Read more

Bihar: On the frontline of treating kala azar-HIV co-infection

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Kala azar is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases in the world. It is spread to humans by bites from infected female sand flies and attacks the immune system. While cases of the disease are declining steadily, kala azar-HIV co-infection is fast becoming a serious threat. After treating over 12,000 kala azar patients … Read more

Bihar: "I try to bring hope to patients living with kala azar-HIV co-infection"

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Name : Designation : Interview conducted and written by Kavitha Devadas for MSF Kala azar is one of the most dangerous neglected tropical diseases in the world. It is spread to humans by bites from infected female sand flies and attacks the immune system. While cases of the disease are declining steadily, kala azar-HIV co-infection … Read more

Zoya’s story: "I have returned from the brink of death"

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Name : Designation : Interview conducted and written by Kavitha Devadas for MSF As well as suffering a lack of awareness and social stigma, kala azar-HIV co-infected patients are also prone to other infections, relapse more often and are at a greater risk of death. 39-year-old Zoya shares her story of recovery after being treated for … Read more

Bihar: MSF conducts orientation programme on kala azar-HIV co-infection for care coordinators, ART counsellors and PLHIV+ group members

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Kala azar Elimination is not possible without addressing the emerging issue of kala azar-HIV coinfection. As a disease that affects the most vulnerable and poorest in society, the deep-rooted stigma and the inadequate state of health facilities make this coinfection an urgent public health concern. The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders / Médecins … Read more

Bihar: A deadly cocktail

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Treating kala azar-HIV co-infection in Bihar Kala jwar. Black fever. Dumdum fever. Visceral leishmaniasis. These are the many names by which kala azar is known. The disease spreads through the bite of a sandfly or balu makkhi and is almost always fatal if left untreated. India accounts for 50 per cent of the global burden of kala azar, and Bihar … Read more