Control and Elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis (FutureLearn)

You’ll look at real-world examples of current VL control and elimination programmes, and find out how to implement and evaluate a programme in your own setting.

What topics will you cover?

This will be the last presentation of this course.

Week 1 - Introduction to VL

- Introduction to the biology, vectors and epidemiology of VL

- Importance of controlling VL

Week 2 - Clinical management of VL: Diagnosis and treatment

- Clinical symptoms and different VL diagnostic tools

- Treatment regimens and anti-leishmanial drugs

Week 3 - Focusing on the vector of VL

- Sand fly biology and behaviour

- Vector-parasite interaction

- Vector control tools

- Emerging challenges in vector control

Week 4 - Tools that complement clinical management and vector control for control and elimination programmes against VL

- Surveillance

- Monitoring and evaluation

- Outbreaks and outbreak management

- Health system strengthening

- Community education

- Elimination & sustainability of control

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

- Describe the cause of visceral leishmaniasis, the way it is transmitted and the basic epidemiology of the disease.

- Identify the symptoms and the tools used for the diagnosis and treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, in order to improve case management.

- Explore the use of vector control methods to prevent bites from infected sand-flies such as using bed-nets and insecticides.

- Reflect on the realities of implementing a VL control programme and the role of community outreach, disease surveillance and control program evaluation.