Kala Azar to be tackled in 2-3 years; Health Minister

New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) Admitting to the prevalence of deadly 'Kala Azar' in 52 districts in four states of the country, Union Health Minister Dr A Ramadoss today said the Centre has signed an agreement with World Health Organisation (WHO) to tackle the disease within the next two to three years.

Replying to a supplementary in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, he said WHO has entered into similar agreements with Bangladesh and Nepal to control the disease in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Following intervention by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, the Minister assured Bihar MP Ranjeet Ranjan that the Central government was going all out to eliminate and eradicate the disease, adding ''We have newer drugs now to control the disease and substantial reduction is expected in the next two to three years.'' On the widespread use of DDT inspite of the ban on the chemical, Dr Ramadoss replied to Ms Maneka Gandhi of BJP that the ban was confined to its use in agriculture and not health sector. He, however, assured her that the health department only made a judicious use of DDT and malethon to fight malaria as their use was allowed by WHO.

UNI