About This Project

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical parasitic diseases in the world and is spread by the bite of sand flies. 78% of people living in the Madawachchiya area in Sri Lanka are bitten by sand flies. Many remote areas have a higher burden of leishmaniasis, despite being far away from clinical and public health services. Our research will evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive public health intervention based out of a mobile vector clinic on reducing leishmaniasis breeding environment and disease.

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What is the context of this research?

Leishmaniasis is more prevalent in poorer areas and vulnerable populations such as children, farmers and the elderly. People living in our target make a living through farming and therefore are continually exposed to hurtful, irritating and often festering sand flies. The Madawachchiya area also experiences severe droughts, forcing inhabitants to clear the jungle in order to cultivate food, which in result disturbs the sand fly breeding areas resulting in more bites. And so the evil cycle continues because nobody is taking the time to educate or to intervene.

Further, very low levels of awareness on the disease among the local population, and the absence of dedicated vector surveillance and control volunteers are also thrive the incidence of sandfly bites.

What is the significance of this project?

A very small portion of the research community focuses on sand fly vector control / Leishmaniasis. We are passionate to be part of that small group committed to making a difference, and to help the large number of poor people affected by this. The proposed project facilitates sand fly vector control and Leishmaniasis disease control in Madawachchiya MOH area, in Sri Lanka by means of providing proper instructions and improving awareness on a continues basis which will keep staying one step ahead of the sand fly vectors responsible for Leishmaniasis parasite transmission. Thus people know how to protect themselves and their communities from sand fly vectors and Leishmaniasis disease which ultimately leads to the prevention of the epidemic situation within the Madawachchiya MOH area.

What are the goals of the project?

If we reach our target of 5650 USD that would fund three months of community and field activity allowing us to significantly reduce the presence of sand flies within the Madawachchiya area. Our main goals included to evaluate two specific aspects of community health intervention. First, we will teach people how to reduce sand fly habitat in the environment near their homes by following home gardening practices. Secondly, we will arrange adult sand fly insect controlling by evaluating the vector behaviours, utilizing an integrated vector control approaches, advocacy for diseases prevention and control measures. We will evaluate the success of our programs by continuous monitoring of adult sand fly population within the area.