New Delhi, May 23 -- Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to eradicate visceral leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar), at an event organised by the African Union and World Health Organization (WHO). The event was held on the sidelines of 78th World Health Assembly being held in Geneva.

Kala-azar, caused by a parasite, is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) with a high fatality rate. While it has been contained to a large extent globally, a major burden of the disease is now borne by east African countries.

NTDs are a WHO-defined group of diseases that mostly impact the underprivileged sections of the population in tropical regions. They pose a public health chall...