Monitoring and evaluation tool kit for indoor residual spraying
Kala-azar elimination in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Summary
Integrated vector management is one of the key elements of the kala-azar (KA)/ visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination strategy in the three target countries – Bangladesh, India and Nepal. A research programme coordinated by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and the World Health Organization (WHO)/WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO) has shown that indoor residual spraying (IRS) in particular – but also long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LNs) and environmental management – are efficacious in reducing sandfly densities (Joshi et al. 2009; Das et al. 2010). However, in spite of enormous efforts, research has also shown that national vector control programmes need to be strengthened in order to achieve the goal of reducing vector densities to the low level required to interrupt KA transmission (Chowdhury et al. 2010).
This monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tool kit has been developed as an interagency effort involving both public health and academic institutions. Its main purpose is to support IRS programmes through systematic M&E of processes and outcomes, allowing timely detection of gaps and constraints and so ensuring that adequate responses are triggered.
The tool kit is designed not only to assist vector control managers in their daily practice but also as a background document for training and capacity building at all levels of the vector control programme.
This is a working document which will be adapted every two to four years according to experiences gained in field applications and feedback received from those who have applied it in their environments.