At the 78th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 14 October 2025, global health leaders, policymakers, researchers, and partners came together to celebrate two decades of progress against kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) – one of South Asia’s most devastating neglected tropical diseases.
The high-level side event, co-hosted by the Government of India, Government of Nepal, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO), Gates Foundation India, and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), marked 20 years of the Regional Kala-azar Elimination Initiative – a collaborative effort that has seen sustained progress against the disease in the region.
A milestone for public health
When the initiative was launched in 2005, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal bore nearly 70% of the global kala-azar burden, and the goal of eliminating the disease as a public health threat seemed almost out of reach. But the progress made over the past 20 years has shown that regional commitment, scientific innovation, and strong partnerships can deliver significant public health gains. Later joined by Bhutan and Sri Lanka and supported by WHO, donors, and implementation partners, the Regional Kala-azar Elimination Initiative has driven a 95% reduction in cases, with 98% of endemic areas now reaching elimination targets.
‘Sustaining the gains made against kala-azar is a shared responsibility.’ said Pushpendra Rajput, Joint Secretary (Vector Borne Diseases), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, during the opening session.
‘Our success shows what regional solidarity, scientific innovation, and unwavering political will can achieve when we move together towards a common goal.’
Pushpendra Rajput
Celebrating progress and looking ahead
Bringing together health officials from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, as well as representatives from global health agencies, research institutions, and partners, the event both celebrated the progress made and explored how lessons learned from the initiative can guide integrated approaches to multi-disease elimination in the region.
‘Through renewed political commitment, strong surveillance, and decentralized delivery of care, Nepal has been able to sustain elimination progress and swiftly respond to changing disease patterns,’ said Dr Gokarna Dahal, Section Chief, NTD and Vector Borne Disease Control Section, Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal. ‘Partnerships with WHO, the Gates Foundation, and DNDi have played an important role in building technical capacity and strengthening our programme at every level.’
DNDi’s role in advancing kala-azar elimination
DNDi has been a key partner in advancing the kala-azar elimination agenda through research, innovation, and collaboration in South Asia. DNDi convened a consortium of partners along with MSF to develop new, safer combination therapies with cure rates above 95%, replacing toxic and less effective treatments. DNDi also generated evidence that informed regional policy changes – making treatment simpler, safer, and more accessible and bringing care closer to the most affected communities.
During the panel discussion on ‘Success factors, lessons learnt and the way forward to accelerate and sustain elimination of kala-azar in South-East Asia,’ speakers reflected on the critical enablers of success, from strong research-policy linkages and regional coordination to government ownership and community engagement.
‘What really made it possible was the strong partnership between researchers, national programmes, WHO, and implementing partners – everyone was working toward the same elimination goal. Because of that alignment, evidence could move quickly into policy,’ said Sheeraz Raja, Senior Clinical Project Manager, DNDi. ‘A good example is the adoption of single-dose liposomal amphotericin B and the move from hospital-based to more decentralized case management. These changes came directly from studies done by DNDi and partners, national programmes, and academic teams, and were tested in real settings before being scaled up.’
Looking to the future, Raja commented on LXE408 – an all-new compound currently in clinical trials for kala-azar in India and Ethiopia.
‘LXE408 could play a crucial role in sustaining gains if it is proven effective. As kala-azar cases become sporadic in remote areas, an oral option like LXE408 will help keep care decentralized and accessible, making it feasible to maintain services even as external funding and programmatic support decrease.’
Sheeraz Raja
Towards a multi-disease elimination future
At the side event, a panel discussion on accelerating and sustaining the elimination of kala-azar through multi-disease elimination approaches in South-East Asia highlighted the need for close collaboration between research organizations beyond Asia, strengthened community mobilization, and improved data integration and surveillance systems. Panelists also emphasized the importance of donor collaboration and integration, health worker training for multiple diseases, enhanced outbreak investigation and pharmacovigilance, and strengthened intersectoral partnerships. Alignment of efforts among governments, donors, and research partners will also play a critical role in ensuring gains are sustained and built on within multi-disease elimination frameworks.
The success of the Regional Kala-azar Elimination Initiative serves as a blueprint for future disease elimination efforts. It demonstrates what can be achieved when scientific innovation, political leadership, and regional cooperation come together in pursuit of health equity.
Watch the film
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Regional Kala-azar Elimination Initiative, a short film ‘Road to Elimination of Kala-azar in South Asia’ was launched at the side event. The film tells the story of how political will, scientific breakthroughs, and cross-border collaboration changed the course of kala-azar in the region.
Photo credit: WHO SEARO
