Technical report: Elimination and Control of Lymphatic Filariasis Program: a partnership between the Department of Health in Olinda, Pernambuco state, Brazil and the National Center of Lymphatic Filariasis

Abstract

The technical and scientific knowledge accumulated along the years about
bancroftosis, added to the parasite’s biology information, where: men is a reservoir,
a culicidium is responsible for transmission, no multiplication occurs in the host, do
not represent an infectious and contagious disease, and the availability of efficacious
drug; makes this disease as potentially eliminable until the year 2020, according to
the World Health Organization. This report describes, at first hand, the Elimination
of Lymphatic Filariasis Program at the city of Olinda (Pernambuco State, Brazil), in particular the mass drug administration performed by the Family Health Program
teams, the selection of sentinel groups, and the situational diagnosis of morbidity.
Recommendations for evaluation and follow-up of the impact of these actions
with several diagnostic tools, integrated to vectorial evaluation, are described. In
addition, this report shows the importance of articulation and integration between
the National Center of Lymphatic Filariasis and the Municipal Health Secretary of
Olinda, associating research and services targeting to the success of the program.