June 3, 2016
Working toward the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF), Eisai is involved in various support activities in disease endemic countries, including the free provision of an LF treatment, diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) tablets.
At Eisai's subsidiaries in LF endemic countries in Asia, Eisai has appointed internal ”DEC Project Managers” who are responsible for planning and promoting local activities to support LF elimination in order to help advance LF elimination efforts in each country.
The creation of leaflets for DEC tablets in Asian languages is one example of the activities conducted by DEC Project Managers. The elimination of LF involves mass drug administration (MDA) implemented by WHO to treat the entire at-risk population in endemic countries, where DEC tablets are simultaneously administered to residents in a target region including young children and the elderly. However, without fully developed health, welfare and medical systems in place, in these disease endemic regions where many people cannot even visit a hospital when they are sick, it is not easy to convince residents to participate in MDA.
Given this situation, Eisai's DEC Project Managers have designed and created the leaflet for DEC tablets in an effort to support the progress of MDA in disease endemic regions. This compact leaflet is designed for MDA volunteers, healthcare workers, and participating residents, featuring a simple explanation of DEC tablets including efficacy, precautions, and possible side effects. Currently available in English, Hindi, Telugu (a primary language of South East India), Thai, and Myanmar, the leaflet is used during MDA implementation.
Towards the global goal of eliminating LF by 2020, Eisai intends to continue contributing to advance international elimination efforts through the ongoing free provision of DEC tablets as well as the local activities proposed by the DEC Project Managers.
