ihaa058.pdf (2.79 MB)
African regional progress and status of programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: 2000-2020
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:33
Version 1 2023-06-09, 21:52
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:33 authored by Kebede Kassaye, Didier K Bakajika, Honorat Marie-Gustave Zoure, John O Gyapong, David H Molyneux, Maria P RebolloTo eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) by 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a campaign against the disease. Since the launch in 2000, significant progress has been made to achieve this ambitious goal. In this article we review the progress and status of the LF programme in Africa through the WHO neglected tropical diseases preventive chemotherapy databank, the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) portal and other publications. In the African Region there are 35 countries endemic for LF. The Gambia was reclassified as not requiring preventive chemotherapy in 2015, while Togo and Malawi eliminated LF as a public health problem in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Cameroon discontinued mass drug administration (MDA) and transitioned to post-MDA surveillance to validate elimination. The trajectory of coverage continues to accelerate; treatment coverage increased from 0.1% in 2000 to 62.1% in 2018. Geographical coverage has also significantly increased, from 62.7% in 2015 to 78.5% in 2018. In 2019, 23 of 31 countries requiring MDA achieved 100% geographic coverage. Although much remains to be done, morbidity management and disability prevention services have steadily increased in recent years. Vector control interventions conducted by other programmes, particularly malaria vector control, have had a profound effect in stopping transmission in some endemic countries in the region. In conclusion, significant progress has been made in the LF programme in the region while we identify the key remaining challenges in achieving an Africa free of LF.
Funding
The Global Atlas of Podoconiosis; G1974; WELLCOME TRUST; 201900/Z/16/Z
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
International HealthISSN
1876-3413Publisher
Oxford University PressExternal DOI
Issue
S1Volume
13Page range
S22-S27Department affiliated with
- Global Health and Infection Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-10-12First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-01-11First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-10-10Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC