Journalists misrepresent the facts about kala-azar

Editor -Sanjit Bagchi's article about kala-azar starts by saying that kala-azar is under-represented in Indian press.¹ This is not true; the issue is not under-represented but totally misrepresented. A couple of months ago, a senior and well known journalist claimed in one of India's leading newspapers that kala-azar was eradicated from India in 1960s and no money needed to be spent on the disease. But India has pledged to reduce the disease load by a quarter until 2005 and has planned to eradicate it by 2012. Similarly, another newspaper columnist wrote that the disease is incurable and drugs are yet to be developed.

Indian journalists are usually overcritical of any effort made by the government of India and do not take the bigger picture into account. The government alone cannot fight the disease, but non-governmental organisations, social activists, social scientists, local leaders, the media, teachers, and the people themselves also have a part to play. To reduce the number of new infections every year from 500 000, the government needs support and help to do this. Most people with kala-azar are poor and cannot afford the treatment; government has to pay, which incurs it a huge financial burden. Moreover, the disease is preventable by taking adequate precautions such as cleanliness and anti-sandfly measures. Journalists should realise this so that at least they report the truth and do not mislead policy makers, doctors, students, social workers, and non-governmental organisations.

1. Bagchi S. Kala-azar and elephantiasis. studentBMJ 2003;11:473. (December.)