Patna: Patna has launched an extensive campaign to fight Kala-azar, a deadly disease spread by sandflies, with the health department already spraying over 24 quintals of medicine in affected areas. The campaign, which started on July 28, will run for two months and cover several parts of the district where patients have been found in recent years. Officials say another 30 quintals of the Synthetic Parathyroid (SP) solution will be sprayed in the coming days to ensure full protection.
A total of 17 teams have been deployed for the operation. These teams are visiting the most affected areas every day and spraying the medicine. The spraying plan has been made based on the number of Kala-azar cases reported in the past three years. This year, six new patients have been found — one each in Bakhtiyarpur, Pandarak, Mokama, and Maner, and two in Naubatpur. Last year, six patients were also reported in Patna district, which shows the disease is still a concern for health officials.
The government is also providing financial help to the affected families. Under the Chief Minister Kala-azar Relief Scheme, each patient is being given Rs 6,600 by the state government, along with an additional Rs 500 by the Government of India. Officials said that some areas have faced delays in spraying due to waterlogging caused by heavy rain, but the work will be completed in the next 10 days.
The campaign is being carried out across multiple primary health centre (PHC) areas, including Patna Sadar, Danapur, Dhanarua, Bakhtiyarpur, Athmalgola, Dulhin Bazar, Maner, Pandarak, Vikram, Naubatpur, Fatuha, and Mokama. Health officials have urged residents to cooperate with spraying teams and report any symptoms immediately. They are confident that this large-scale drive will help in controlling the spread of Kala-azar and protecting people from future outbreaks.
