Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Activities in Myanmar

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September 1, 2020

Eisai has been providing its DEC tablets for free to lymphatic filariasis (LF) endemic countries through the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2013. So far, Eisai has provided 2 billion DEC tablets to 28 countries (as of the end of July 2020).

Mass drug administration (MDA) using Eisai’s DEC tablets took place in 77 townships (15 districts) in Myanmar, one of countries which Eisai has been providing DEC tablets, in July 2020. The MDA was planned to take place in March 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Eisai’s staff in Myanmar participated in it to support the MDA.

Visiting villagers to provide medicines

In order to eliminate LF, it is necessary to cover as many people as possible in the MDA. Achieving high coverage of the MDA is vital for the early elimination of LF. In order to achieve high MDA coverage in the villages, Eisai staff together with Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports staff and local healthcare professionals, went door-to-door to provide the medicines for MDA and observed to make sure that villagers were taking the medicines. 

Eisai’s staff together with Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sports staff and local healthcare professionals

Eisai staff also prepared and provided pamphlets in the local language to raise community awareness on the prevention, MDA and treatment of LF. More 770,000 pamphlets have been provided to the villagers.

Pamphlet

Eisai has supplied about 530 million DEC tablets to Myanmar via the WHO since 2014. Myanmar is the 2nd major country to which we've supplied a large amount of DEC tablets. Eisai was awarded Certificate of Appreciation by Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar for the donation of DEC in 2018.

Certificate of Appreciation by Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar

Eisai aims to continue contributing to the early elimination of LF through the ongoing free provision of DEC tablets as well as support for MDA and disease awareness activities.

  
*Please follow Eisai’s official Twitter account (https://twitter.com/Eisai_SDGs) for information about Eisai’s improving access to medicines initiatives including activities for the elimination of LF.