Article link:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/malawi-becomes-the-second-country-in-sub-saharan-africa-to-eliminate-lymphatic-filariasis-elephantiasis-301162180.html
In the African country of Malawi, doctors and scientists have eliminated Lymphatic Filariasis (LF; Elephantitis), being only the second country in Sub-Saharan Africa to do this. LF is a disease that is spread by a parasite caused by a mosquito bite. This disease causes a long-term infection, the most common symptoms include swelling and thickening of skin (limbs, breasts, and genitals). In 1997, the World Health Assembly passed a goal to eliminate LF around the world. The two medications that helped eliminate LF are albendazole and ivermectin. In 1998, GK, a global healthcare company, started the Mectizan Donation Program, which directly contributed to the elimination of LF in Malawi.
Because of a second country in Africa eliminating this, it puts a hope for other countries to get rid of this disease. “According to WHO, elephantiasis is found in 73 countries around the world with an estimated 120 million people infected.” Areas specifically where this disease is worse includes Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific, parts of Caribbean, and some of South America. The disease is prevalent in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Brazil. According to the article, “100 million additional free treatments per year through 2025 to support the elimination of LF globally in countries where onchocerciasis is not endemic.” Other countries can learn from the situation in Malawi and implement these medications or practices, to stop this disease. I believe if more African countries are encouraged to follow Malawi’s example, the disease could be eradicated from the African continent.
This article demonstrates several concepts we have already covered in class. I feel this article relates to the global level, because it is a health issue affecting people from all over the world. At the interstate/regional level, there are several African nations who are also dealing with the disease and are working on finding a cure to this disease. Malawi, through international organizations like the WHO could share what they have learned with other countries around the world to completely eliminate this disease globally.