WHO Country Office for India in collaboration with National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI), organized a 'National Meeting on Accelerated Plan for Kala-azar Elimination 2017 and National Workshop on Pharmacovigilance for Vector Borne Diseases’, at New Delhi from 2-4 February 2017.
The ‘Accelerated Plan for Kala-azar Elimination’ including ‘Roadmap for Introduction of Pharmacovigilance for Vector borne Diseases’ was launched during the meeting by Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste, Hon’ble Minister of State, Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste, said, “Kala azar is one of the important flagship programmes of Government of India and we at the ministry are making all out efforts in seeing to it that our long cherished dream of elimination is realized.”
“It is an apt moment for the introduction of pharmacovigilance in the programme,” he added.
“We are strongly monitoring progress of elimination of Kala-azar, Lymphatic Filariasis and Leprosy in India. The elimination target of Kala-azaar in 2017, and its mention by the Prime Minster and Finance Minister of India reflects political commitment and will at the highest level,” highlighted Mr C. K. Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Kala-azar is slated for elimination in the WHO South-East Asia Region by 2017. WHO and partners are supporting NVBDCP in intensifying activities towards its elimination.
In his address, Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India said, “The commitment of the Government of India to eliminate kala azar by endorsing the ‘Accelerated plan for Kala- azar elimination-2017’ and the Roadmap for setting up pharmacovigilance systems for vector-borne diseases medicines is commendable.”
“Given India’s track-record of success in overcoming polio, yaws, and elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, I am convinced that India will overcome the remaining challenges and eliminate Kala-azar by the end of the year,” he added.
It is partners and strong partnerships that make the elimination of a disease possible. The dedication and hard work of partners ensures successful implementation of a program through concerted and persistent high-quality efforts.
The meeting witnessed a convergence of stakeholders from Indian and global public health sector for vector-borne diseases. It was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, kala-azar endemic states, national and international experts, state and district vector-borne diseases programme officers, state and zonal coordinators for neglected tropical diseases, senior officials from NVBDCP and PvPI.
WHO has been providing pivotal support in setting up pharmacovigilance systems in collaboration with Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PVPI) to monitor various public health programmes like TB, HIV, and now NVBDCP.
Other prominent dignitaries at the inaugural session were: Dr Arun Panda, AS&MD, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Mr Navdeep Rinwa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr A.C. Dhariwal, Director, NVBDCP, Dr G.N. Singh, Secretary-Cum-Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission; Dr R.K. Das Gupta, Joint Director, NVBDCP among others.