# Visceral leishmaniasis elimination in South Asia: lessons learnt can inform disease elimination in East Africa

## TL;DR

A program in South Asia successfully reduced visceral leishmaniasis cases, offering lessons for eliminating the disease in other regions like East Africa.

## Contribution

The paper highlights a successful disease elimination program in South Asia and its potential applicability elsewhere.

## Key findings

- Bangladesh achieved visceral leishmaniasis elimination by 2017.
- Public–private partnerships and concerted efforts were key to success.
- The program's lessons can inform elimination efforts for other diseases.

## Abstract

In 2005, the governments of Bangladesh, India and Nepal, in partnership with the WHO, started the Kala-azar Elimination Programme (KEP) to reduce the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis to below 1 new case in 10 000 population. The target was achieved by Bangladesh in 2017 and validated in 2023. The KEP has demonstrated that, through a concerted approach and public–private partnership, it is possible to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis from the world’s highest endemic region, Southeast Asia. The experience learnt can be used elsewhere for visceral leishmaniasis as well as for other diseases targeted for elimination.