Samoa has become the first country to implement the new triple drug regimen recommended by World Health Organisation for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis, a disabling and disfiguring neglected tropical disease.
Annual mass treatment of the entire eligible population of Samoa was carried out last month and is expected to continue this month in the remaining other communities of the country.
In 2017, WHO published guidelines on alternative mass drug administration (MDA) regimens to eliminate filariasis, in which IDA (that is, a combination of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) is recommended for annual treatment in settings where its use is expected to have the greatest impact.
WHO Representative in Samoa, Dr Rasul Bagirov said they are working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the project is well received in the communities of the pacific country.
“Together with the Ministry of Health Samoa, we have ensured that dispositions are in place to enable the mass treatment of an estimated 180 000 people as part of their renewed national plan to eliminate lymphatic filariasis1 as a public health problem.”
“With the support of partners and donated medicines from the pharmaceutical industry, the Government of Samoa has been demonstrating its strong commitment to ensure that filariasis is finally eliminated from Samoa,” he said.
Health teams in all communities started mass treatment of children in primary schools and made house-to-house visits to provide the treatment to all eligible individuals in the community in Savaii, the largest island of Samoa.
WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific’s Acting Director of Division of Communicable Disease, Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe said the health workers and volunteers ensured that people took the medication under their direct supervision.
“Engaging communities and making sure everyone takes the medication is crucial to ensure success through the use of this new treatment regimen, and thereby accelerate the achievement of elimination” said.”
“We are encouraged to note the careful planning and preparations, including communication and training of health workers and volunteers that has preceded the implementation of this Campaign and are hopeful that the community will respond positively,” he said.
Meanwhile, Samoa joined Pacific Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (PacELF) in 1999 and conducted its first MDA campaign that year, followed at regular intervals with other campaigns.
However, countrywide surveys including blood tests in 2017 noted persistent transmission of LF. In response, the Government of Samoa, supported by WHO, renewed its efforts to accelerate elimination of the disease using the new triple drug regimen.
The Pacific Island nations that have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem include Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Niue, Tonga and Vanuatu.