Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms. The adult worms only live in the human lymph system. The lymph system maintains the body’s fluid balance and fights infections and spread from person to person by mosquitoes. It is the leading cause of disability morbidity globally causing serious psychosocial, sexual, and social disfunction.
In Kenya, lymphatic filariasis is found in the coastal areas where the predominant vectors are anopheline and culicine mosquitoes in the rural and urban settings, respectively. As a result, the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) program was re-launched in 2013 to oversee the re-establishment of the National Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (NPELF) initiated in 2001 for LF control.
The African Institute for Health and Development did formative research for Task Force for Global Health and The End Fund. The results indicated that LF was of public health importance only in the coastal region. Out of the twenty-six sub-counties in this region, twenty-three qualified for mass drug administration (MDA). As a result, the recommended WHO regimen of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole (DA) was adopted for the control of LF and the soil transmitted helminthiasis (STH), a process that was initiated in 2002.
Several countries have found that, the response to the present Mass Drug Administration regimen has been sub-optimal in some IUs necessitating additional rounds. The gaps in implementation and the sub-optimal achievements of the elimination agenda have led to the need for complementary or alternative strategies to accelerate global elimination.
The Government implemented IDA in the whole of Lamu County and in Jomvu sub-County. These are high microfilariae rate locations and are like other endemic sub-Counties in the coastal region on a programmatic scale. The primary objective of the study was to strengthen community and health system participation to reach more than 80% coverage with MDA using triple-drug therapy IDA. Lamu residents confirmed that they had knowledge of Lymphatic