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Kala-Azar, "The Forgotten Disease"
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 INTRODUCTION- Kala-Azar or Visceral Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that affects the bodyÕs immune system much like HIV/AIDS. Once the disease has matured it can be fatal within months without treatment. It is transmitted by a female sand fly (Phlebotomus Martini) that lives in the lowlands of Northeastern Uganda, and Northwestern Kenya.
There is no way to tell how many die from this disease each year, as there are no government localities to report to. Victims of the disease sometimes walk more than two weeks to get to the hospital in Amudat. The treatment lasts for a month, which can bring the total time involved to over two months. And although the treatment is at little or no cost, the patients must arrange for their own food. This often requires the selling of one or two cows. Even when Kala-Azar is suspected, only a percentage can afford to make the journey for treatment.
CAPTION
A 10-year-old Ugandan boy awaits a blood transfusion from his father. The child has already been ill for over twelve weeks. His case is rare because it is the second time he has been treated for Kala-Azar. The harsh drugs used for treatment can be especially tough on the young and elderly. |
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