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EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM TO ELIMINATE LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS IN VANUATU FOLLOWING TWO YEARS OF MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTATION: RESULTS AND METHODOLOGIC APPROACH

This report presents the results of the Vanuatu mid-term evaluation of the lymphatic filariasis elimination program being implemented countrywide. Vanuatu is one of the first countries to initiate this program as part of the Global Program for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, based on a five-year annual mass drug administration (MDA) of albendazole and diethylcarbamazine and complemented in Vanuatu by extensive coverage with bed nets. This paper reports results of 561 persons tested at eight sentinel sites following two years of MDA. Coverage was 72% and bed net use was more than 70%. Antigen prevalence was reduced by 63% (from 22% to 8%) and prevalence of microfilaremia prevalence was reduced by 93% (from 12% to 0.8%). Results of surveys of health workers and the community are also reported, and the methodology used for this evaluation is discussed.

Received December 9, 2004. Accepted for publication May 25, 2005.

Acknowledgments: We thank the Vector Borne Disease Control Unit staff, malaria supervisors, microscopists and laboratory technicians, nurses, and the community who all willingly gave of their time and effort to enable this study. We are also grateful to Kazuyo Ichimori and the PacELF team for their assistance, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency for supplying ICT kits, and several colleagues for their constructive comments on the drafts of the manuscript.

Financial support: This study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

Disclosure: Margaret Fraser currently works for the Liverpool Lymphatic Filanasis Support Centre, which is supported by grants from GlaxoSmithKline, the Department of International Development (United Kingdom), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This statement is being made in the interest of full disclosure and not because the author considers this to be a conflict of interest.

^* Address correspondence to Margaret Fraser, Vector Borne Disease Unit, Vanuatu Ministry of Health, Private Mail Bag 009, Port Vila, Vanuatu. E-mail: margaret.fraser{at}liverpool.ac.uk

Authors’ address: Margaret Fraser, George Taleo, Fasihah Taleo, James Yaviong, Morris Amos, Mark Babu, and Morris Kalkoa, Vector Borne Disease Unit, Vanuatu Ministry Of Health, Private Mail Bag 009, Port Vila, Vanuatu, E-mail: margaret.fraser{at}liverpool.ac.uk.

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