Federal Ministry of Health Discusses Strategies to Eliminate Kala-azar in Sudan

Khartoum /
The Federal Ministry of Health held a meeting to discuss mechanisms for eliminating visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) in Sudan. The meeting took place at the office of the Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, and was attended by the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr. Ali Babikir Sayed Ahmed, the Acting Minister and Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gedaref State, Dr. Ahmed Al-Amin, senior health officials, and the Country Director of Oriole Global Health/The End Fund, Dr. Attia Abdalla Attia.
The meeting reviewed the importance of implementing Kala-azar control campaigns, ensuring the availability of medicines for patients, and strengthening disease prevention efforts in affected states, including Gedaref, Sennar, and other endemic areas. Participants also emphasized the importance of preventive indoor residual spraying and reviewed Gedaref State’s experience in combating the disease.
The Federal Minister of Health praised the support and contributions of development partners, particularly Oriole Global Health, The End Fund, and the World Health Organization (WHO), stressing the importance of strengthening collaboration to combat Kala-azar.
The Ministry’s Undersecretary highlighted the need to enhance governance, activate coordination mechanisms, and strengthen monitoring and follow-up efforts.
For his part, the representative of Oriole Global Health stated that the organization is currently operating in 10 states through 48 hospitals. He emphasized the need for dedicated strategies to eliminate Kala-azar, strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers through training, and establish a specialized committee to oversee the disease elimination program. He also noted that the results of a recent survey conducted in several states are expected to be released within the next two months.
He reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the Federal Ministry of Health until Kala-azar is eliminated and Sudan is declared free of the disease. He also confirmed the organization’s continued support for the control of other neglected tropical diseases, in line with the World Health Organization’s strategy for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.