Visceral leishmaniasis in Somalia: A review of epidemiology and access to care

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Mar 9;11(3):e0005231. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005231. eCollection 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Somalia, ravaged by conflict since 1991, has areas endemic for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a deadly parasitic disease affecting the rural poor, internally displaced, and pastoralists. Very little is known about VL burden in Somalia, where the protracted crisis hampers access to health care. We reviewed evidence about VL epidemiology in Somalia and appraised control options within the context of this fragile state's health system. VL has been reported in Somalia since 1934 and has persisted ever since in foci in the southern parts of the country. The only feasible VL control option is early diagnosis and treatment, currently mostly provided by nonstate actors. The availability of VL care in Somalia is limited and insufficient at best, both in coverage and quality. Precarious security remains a major obstacle to reach VL patients in the endemic areas, and the true VL burden and its impact remain unknown. Locally adjusted, innovative approaches in VL care provision should be explored, without undermining ongoing health system development in Somalia. Ensuring VL care is accessible is a moral imperative, and the limitations of the current VL diagnostic and treatment tools in Somalia and other endemic settings affected by conflict should be overcome.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Humans
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / diagnosis
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / drug therapy
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / epidemiology*
  • Somalia / epidemiology

Grants and funding

The project leading to this research has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement ° 642609. TS is the author receiving the grant under the Euroleish project (see www.euroleish.net). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.