University of Sussex
Browse
ihaa058.pdf (2.79 MB)

African regional progress and status of programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: 2000-2020

Download (2.79 MB)
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 Rebollo
To 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 Health

ISSN

1876-3413

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

S1

Volume

13

Page range

S22-S27

Department affiliated with

  • Global Health and Infection Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-10-12

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-01-11

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-10-10

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC