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The sharp end — experiences from the Tanzanian programme for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis: notes from the end of the road

Annals of Tropical Medicine and ParasitologyPublished 1 October 2009
Mwelecele N. Malecela, Upendo Mwingira, Mbutolwe E. Mwakitalu, Conrad Kabali, E. Michael, Charles Mackenzie
Citations14

TL;DR

An insight is provided of how the Tanzania Lymphatic Filariasis Programme began and key areas in the programme's design are discussed, including how the programme is perceived by, and how it affects, village healthworkers, patients and politicians.

Abstract

The Tanzania Lymphatic Filariasis Programme, which was launched in 2000, is, in terms of geographical coverage, among the largest disease-control programmes in Tanzania's history, currently reaching 9.4 million people in 34 districts. The issues associated with this programme's implementation are reviewed here, in the context of the various players/stakeholders involved. This article provides an insight of how the programme began and discusses key areas in the programme's design. Mainly, however, it gives some impressions of how the programme is perceived by, and how it affects, village healthworkers, patients and politicians - the people who contribute to the implementation of the programme at various levels.

Keywords

Immunology and MicrobiologyMedicineEnvironmental Science