Detection and Control of Leishmaniasis Amongst Conflict-Affected Communities in North-West Syria The Syrian Arab Republic is enduring a protracted humanitarian crisis as a result of ten years of ongoing conflict and insecurity, displacements, heavily damaged infrastructure and a lack of basic services. Uncollected waste, cracks and crevices in buildings, and the rubble of destroyed infrastructure created by conflict and displacement create ideal breeding grounds for the sandfly, the vector of leishmaniasis, which in some areas can proliferate unabated. In addition to the presence of a multitude of host reservoirs, such as rodents and canines, the amassing of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in encampments greatly enhances the female sandfly’s ability to find a blood meal to nourish the development of eggs, and thus to transmit infection in the process.

Under this project, MENTOR proposes to conduct leishmaniasis medical management activities in areas of Western Rural Aleppo and Northern Idleb that have been identified under this allocation strategy as priority areas due to the high number of recent returnees, the lack of available services and resources as well as a continued high incidence of both forms of leishmaniasis, cutaneous (CL) as well as visceral (VL). MENTOR is currently active in these areas, and proposes to extend its presence through this grant in a bid to control the proliferation of leishmaniasis and to provide acutely needed leishmaniasis health services. 

Through this project, The MENTOR Initiative will continue to partner with stakeholders and communities to ensure that the most vulnerable receive:

1. Health:
MENTOR is proposing to launch 1 leishmaniasis mobile clinic (MC) in Jabel Saman district (serving Atareb and Daret Azza sub-districts) of West Rural Aleppo Governorate and 1 MC in Harim district of Idleb governorate as well as supporting 16 health facilities (HFs) in the same locations with leishmaniasis diagnostic, treatment support and training on leishmaniasis case management. Support will include an essential supply chain of leishmaniasis diagnostic and case management commodities along with materials, regular technical training, coaching and an intensive 2-day training course for health care workers (HCWs) from supported HFs on all aspects of diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis. Furthermore, MENTOR is planning to conduct a VL survey in the areas with reported high VL incidence to enable early detection and management of the fatal disease.  

2. Information, Education and Communication / Behaviour Change Communication (IEC/BCC): 
MENTOR will run a combined IEC/BCC campaign to ensure households are empowered to prevent leishmaniasis transmission within their household and to maximize uptake and correct utilization of leishmaniasis prevention and case management services. People will be taught about the signs and symptoms of leishmaniasis, correct treatment seeking behavior, preventative actions as well as common misconceptions about the disease and its treatment. Moreover, MENTOR will encourage leishmaniasis patients to complete their treatment course to avoid drug resistance. MENTOR will achieve this by targeting people at supported HFs and MCs as well as the main areas of targeted locations.