To identify vector mosquitoes of Kala-Azar, also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis, is regarded as one of the most neglected tropical diseases, icddr,b started using ‘Mobile Suitcase Laboratory’ kit which is more effective than any other methods.The vector of the disease is the sand-fly and Kala-Azar is highly lethal and difficult to achieve a complete cure but icddr,b is aiming to strengthen capacities of Bangladeshi research institutes for surveillance of prevalence of Kala-Azar by using the mobile suitcase laboratory kit.By using this kit iccdr,b could identify Kala-Azar infected within four minutes where it needs four or more hours in modern hospitals. In Bangladesh, about 65 million people are living in Kala-Azar endemic areas, and around 5,000 are newly infected every year, a sharp decline from 50,000 a decade ago.To eradicate Kala-Azar, iccdr,b has taken a five year project, which started in June 2011 aiming to strengthen capacities of Bangladeshi research institutes for surveillance of prevalence of Kala-Azar, comes to an end this month, said a iccdr,b press release.The project is being implemented by icddr,b in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of Bangladesh, Japan Science and Technology Agency and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under a scheme titled ‘Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS)’ of Japan. The project established Suruya Kanta Kala-Azar Research Centre (SKKRC) in Mymensingh, the most Kala-Azar prone district in Bangladesh. Soon after its launch in 2012, it strengthened its capacities in research, diagnostic and curative services and became highly commended locally and internationally.It serves 400 patients each year including cases requiring advanced diagnosis and treatment such as recurrence, severe, complicated and/or treatment failure.During the seminar, Professor Dr Abul Khair Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, Director, Disease Control and Line Director, CDC, DGHS reiterated Bangladesh’s goal in eliminating Kala-Azar and the progress made. He said, ‘We have successfully eradicated Kala-Azar in 98 upazilas of the country. We hope by 2017 Bangladesh will be a Kala-Azar free country’. Recognising JICA’s contribution, he added, ‘We are grateful to JICA for their support and urge them to continue it for future’.