Visceral leishmaniasis elimination in South Asia: lessons learnt can inform disease elimination in East Africa

In 2005, the governments of Bangladesh, India and Nepal, in partnership with the WHO, started the Kala-azar Elimination Programme (KEP) to reduce the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis to below 1 new case in 10 000 population. The target was achieved by Bangladesh in 2017 and validated in 2023. The KEP has demonstrated that, through a concerted approach and public–private partnership, it is possible to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis from the world’s highest endemic region, Southeast Asia. The experience learnt can be used elsewhere for visceral leishmaniasis as well as for other diseases targeted for elimination.