Filariasis Elimination Program

DESCRIPTION

The Elimination started in 2001 after a pilot study using the combination drugs in 2000 in five selected municipalities in five provinces.
Total no. of province: 81
Total population in the country: 103, 741, 330 as of 2018
Total Endemic Provinces: 46 Provinces in 12 Regions
Total Endemic Population: 8 Million
Parasite: Majority is Wuchereria bancrofti
Vectors incriminated: Aedes poecilius, Anopheles flavirostris
 

VISION

Healthy and productive individuals and families for Filariasis-Free Philippines

MISSION

Elimination of Filariasis as a public health problem thru comprehensive approach and universal access to quality health services

OBJECTIVES

  • To sustain transmission interruption in provinces through strengthening of surveillance
  • To intensify interventions and interrupt transmission in persistent infection provinces
  • To strengthen Morbidity Management & Disability Prevention (MMDP) activities and services to alleviate suffering among chronic patients
  • To strengthen the health system capacity to secure LF elimination
  • Secure adequate investment from governmental and non-governmental sources to sustain all program objective

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Filariasis is a major parasitic infection, which continues to be a public health problem in the Philippines.  It was first discovered in the Philippines in 1907 by foreign workers.  Consolidated field reports showed a prevalence rate of 9.7% per 1000 population in 1998. It is the second leading cause of permanent and long-term disability. The disease affects mostly the poorest municipalities in the country about 76% of the case live in the 4th-6th class type of municipalities.

The World Health Assembly in 1997 declared “Filariasis Elimination as a priority” where the WHO’s call for global elimination was created (WHA 50.29 Resolution: Elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem). This was followed by the Global Program for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, launched by World Health Organization which has two main components that were adopted by the national program:

  1. INTERRUPTION OF TRANSMISSION: Elimination level prevalence of microfilaremia of less than 1% and Antigen rate of < 1% through Mass Drug Administration (MDA)
  2. CONTROL AND REDUCE THE MORBIDITY by alleviating the sufferings and disability caused by its clinical manifestations through Morbidity Management Disability Prevention (MMDP)

A sign of the DOH’s commitment to eliminate the disease, the program’s strategy shifted from control to elimination strategies was evident in an Administrative Order #25-A, s.1998 issued in 2004. A major strategy of the Elimination Plan was the Mass Annual Treatment using the combination drug, Diethylcarbamazine Citrate and Albendazole for a minimum of 5 years to individuals ages 2 years old and above living in established endemic areas after the issuance from WHO of the safety data on the use of the drugs.  The Philippine Plan was approved by WHO which gave the government free supply of the Albendazole (donated by GSK thru WHO) for filariasis elimination. An Administrative Order declaring “November as Filariasis Mass Treatment Month was signed by the Secretary of Health was issued on that same year.  In 2010, a guideline in the prevention of disabilities due to lymphatic Filariasis in support to effective implementation of management of morbidity and prevention of disabilities due to Filariasis

PARTNER INSTITUTIONS

  • University of the Philippines Manila- College of Public Health
  • Glaxosmith Klein thru WHO
  • USAID thru RTI ENVISION

POLICIES AND LAWS

  • Administrative Order No. 24s.1998: Elimination of the disease
  • Executive Order No. 369, 2004: Filariasis Mass Treatment Month
  • World Health Assembly No. 50.29: Filariasis Elimination as public health problem
  • Formula One for Health: Disease-Free Zones
  • KP Roadmap 2014-2016
  • Sustainable Development Goal No. 3: Good Health and Well being
  • Philippine Health Development Agenda: Disease for Elimination

STRATEGIES, ACTION POINTS, AND TIMELINE

  1. Mass Drug Administration
  2. Disability Management
  3. Monitoring thru Midterm Sentinel surveys and Evaluation thru Transmission Assessment Survey
  4. Post Validation Surveillance
  5. Private-Public Partnership

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS/STATUS

Provinces have reached elimination level and declared as Filariasis-free as of 2017: 38 Provinces

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

  1. Refresher Course On Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention Guidelines and Tools- 2nd Quarter of The Year
  2. NFEP Program Review and Planning- 1st Quarter of The Year
  3. Review and Updating National Filariasis Elimination Program Guidelines- 1st Quarter of The Year
  4. Orientation On Post Validation Survey- 2nd Quarter of The Year
  5. Series of Meetings On the Production of Radio Infomercial- 1st -4th Quarter of The Year
  6. Mass Drug Administration (MDA)- Every July Of The Year

STATISTICS

Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Accomplishment by year

 

PROGRAM MANAGER CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Julie Mart C. Rubite

National Program Manager for Filariasis Elimination Program

Disease Prevention and Control Bureau

Contact No.: 651-7800 local 2354

Email Address: ntdpilipinas@gmail.com

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updated: October 26, 2018