Present situation of vector-control management in Bangladesh: A wake up call

Objectives: Kala-azar or visceral leishmaniasis is one of the major vector-home diseases in Bangladesh. The disease is transmitted by sandfly. The incidence of the disease. which has been increasing since the early eighties, Must be reduced by taking adequate vector-control measures. The objective of the present study was to identify the favorable factors and the constraints of present vector-control management in Bangladesh. Methods: Purposively selected senior entomologist and retired senior entomologist at central level, civil surgeons. entotechnicians. health inspectors and spray men from kala-azar-endemic districts, community leaders, and NGO representatives were key informants of the study. A household survey to learn about knowledge and perceptions of the people about kala-azar vector was carried out, using a structured questionnaire, in 202 randomly selected households. Results: Practically, there was no vector-control activity in the nine most kala-azar-endemic districts of Bangladesh. Inadequate human resources, lack of logistics, and unavailability of funds for vector control were the major constraints. Community perception about kala-azar vector was poor. However, the use of bednets in the community was high. No private organization was involved in kala-azar vector control. Knowledge of the spray men about the insecticide-spraying technique was also unsatisfactory. Conclusion: Kala-azar vector control in Bangladesh needs immediate attention of policy-makers and donors, otherwise, elimination of kala-azar from the country by 2015 may not be achievable. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.