Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection that causes lymphedema, elephantiasis, and hydrocele. Haiti is one of only four countries left in the Americas where transmission of lymphatic filariasis still occurs. The National Program to Eliminate LF (NPELF) was started in Haiti in 2000, and by 2005 a population of 1.6 million people in 24 communes, including the majority of high-prevalence communes, was targeted at least once for mass drug administration (MDA). An interruption in external funding at the end of 2005 paralyzed the program, but with new donor support the NPELF was able to scale up to achieve full geographic coverage, reaching more than 8 million people in 2012. The LF program in Haiti has faced many challenges, including political crises, hurricanes, a devastating earthquake, and a deadly cholera outbreak in the earthquake's aftermath. Despite these challenges, the NPELF and partners have persisted, and now the program is integrated with soil-transmitted helminth (STH) control, is national in scope, and provides appropriate supportive care for persons suffering from LF morbidity. Haiti serves as a model for successful program implementation in countries affected by political and social challenges and natural disasters.
Highlights
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquitoborne parasitic infection that is best known for causing elephantiasis and hydrocele, conditions that prevent affected persons from living full and productive lives and may isolate them from family and community [1,2]
Significant progress has been made in the effort to develop a national LF program in Haiti, thanks to the highly motivated staff of the Ministry of Public Health and the Population (MSPP) and partners and critical funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CBM, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Abbott Foundation, PepsiCo, the Frank Eck Family Foundation, and other private donors
This manuscript will review Haiti’s remarkable success in overcoming a host of challenges in the ongoing effort to eliminate LF, support persons disabled by LF, and control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
Summary
The National Program to Eliminate LF (NPELF) was started in Haiti in 2000, and by 2005 a population of 1.6 million people in 24 communes, including the majority of high-prevalence communes, was targeted at least once for mass drug administration (MDA). The LF program in Haiti has faced many challenges, including political crises, hurricanes, a devastating earthquake, and a deadly cholera outbreak in the earthquake’s aftermath. Despite these challenges, the NPELF and partners have persisted, and the program is integrated with soiltransmitted helminth (STH) control, is national in scope, and provides appropriate supportive care for persons suffering from LF morbidity. Haiti serves as a model for successful program implementation in countries affected by political and social challenges and natural disasters
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