[post_published]
Photo Credit: RTI International
World Lymphedema Day is an annual day of celebration held March 6th to educate the world about lymphedema and lymphatic diseases.
USAID is committed to global elimination as a public health problem of a lymphatic disease called lymphatic filariasis (LF). Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease transmitted to humans via mosquitoes. It is caused by chronic infection with tiny filarial worms that can damage a person’s lymphatic system. In 2000, WHO estimated that 120 million people are infected with the disease, and more than 40 million people disfigured and incapacitated by the disease.
USAID currently provides technical and financial assistance to countries in support of their efforts to eliminate LF. The primary focus of Agency support is on scale-up of mass drug administration with effective coverage to achieve interruption of transmission of the disease and rigorous monitoring and evaluation of elimination progress. As a result of these efforts, 253 million people now live in areas where treatments for LF are no longer required.
USAID also provides support to countries to plan morbidity management and disability prevention, with a focus on high-quality treatment and care to reduce suffering from chronic symptoms.
See updates from USAID’s implementing partners committed to fighting LF and other neglected tropical diseases: