The lymphatic filariasis elimination program in Bangladesh: an exportable model?

Main Article Content

Elena Mancini

Abstract

The lymphatic filariasis elimination program in Bangladesh: an exportable model? In 1971, at the end of the bloodstained separation war with Pakistan, Bangladesh appeared as a country without hope. The intense spopulation growth –one of the highest in the world– natural disasters such as flooding and typhoons, acute and diffuse poverty– with a percentage of population below poverty line of 30% –the internal political scenario, with social instability and underlyin gethnical conflicts– made this situation less likely to improve. 40 years later, Bangladesh succeeded in disproving such prevision, with a significant growth in economic development, public healthcare and social conditions. Birth control, countermeasures against “big killers” such as (TBC)1 tuberculosis and diarrhea in babies, improvement of hygienic conditions and the implementation of local emergency units (community-clinic), effective sanitary campaigns and prevention of endemic diseases have been accomplishedthanks to the coordinated use of sanitary measures in international programs. Results obtained through a sanitary policy based on fruitful collaborations among the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NGOs, international health organizations, international institutions and foundations. This way Bangladesh achieved the result of an almost total elimination of neglected endemic disease in the country (visceral leishmaniosis, lymphatic filariasis, dengue, plague, and intestinal parasitizes helminth infections). The article analyses the factors contributing to the success of the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program. The study of such factors permitted to identify a governance model for fighting neglected diseases in endemic regions with similar geo-political environments.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Mancini, E. (2019). The lymphatic filariasis elimination program in Bangladesh: an exportable model?. Medicina Y Ética, 30(2), 375–400. Retrieved from https://publicaciones.anahuac.mx/index.php/bioetica/article/view/444
Section
Articles

References

1. CHOWDHURY, A.M., BHUIYA, A., CHOWDHURY, M.E., RASHEED, S., HUSSAIN, Z.,
CHEN, L.C. The Bangladesh paradox: exceptional health achievement despite economic
poverty. Lancet 2013; 382 (9906): 1734-1745.
2. DAS P., HORTON, R. Bangladesh: innovating for health. Lancet 2013; 382
(9906): 1681-1682.
E. Mancini
398 Medicina y Ética 2019/2
3. EL ARIFEEN, S., CHRISTOU, A., REICHENBACH, L., OSMAN, F.A., AZAD, K., ISLAM,
K.S., AHMED, F., PERRY, H.B., PETERS, D.H. Community-based approaches and
partnerships: innovations in health-service delivery in Bangladesh. Lancet 2013;
382 (9906): 2012-2026.
4. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Government of Bangladesh, Neglected tropical
diseases in Bangladesh. USAID, 2010 (http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/
pnady849.pdf).
5. SHAMSUZZAMAN AKM., HAQ, R., KARIM, M.J., AZAD, M.B., MAHMOOD ASMS,
KHAIR, A, ET. AL. The significant scale up and success of Transmission Assessment
Surveys “TAS” for endgame surveillance of lymphatic filariasis in Bangladesh:
One step closer to the elimination goal of 2020. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases,
2017; 11 (1): e0005340.
6. World Health Organization (WHO). Validation of Elimination of Lynphatic Filiariasis
as a Public Health Problem, 2017 (http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/
254377/1/9789241511957-eng.pdf?ua=1).
7. NDEFFO-MBAH, M.L., GALVANI, A.P. Global elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Lancet
Infect Dis. 2017; 17 (4): 358-359.
8. World Health Organization (WHO). Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis:
progress report, 2013, Weekly epidemiological record, 19 september
2014, 89th year, no. 38, 2014, 89.
9. World Health Organization (WHO). Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis:
progress report, 2015, Weekly epidemiological record, 30 September
2016, 91th year, no. 39, 2016, 91.
10. World Health Organization (WHO). Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic
Filariasis, 2010 (http://www.who,int/neglected_diseases/en).
11. World Health Organization (WHO). Fiftieth World Health Assembly. Elimination
of Lyinfatic Filiariasis as a Public Health Problem, Risoluzione WHA 50. 29, 13 maggio
1997.
12. World Health Organization (WHO). Global programme to eliminate lymphatic
filariasis (GPELF), 2000 (http://www.who.int/lymphatic_filariasis/elimination-programme/
en/).
13. GYAPONG, J.O., GYAPONG, M., YELLU, N., ANAKWAH, K., AMOFAH, G., BOCKARIE,
M., ADJEI, S. Integration of control of neglected tropical diseases into health-care
systems: challenges and opportunities. Lancet 2010; 375 (9709): 160-165.
14. World Health Organization (WHO). Density of doctors, nurses and midwives in
the 49 priority countries. In WHO. Global Atlas of the Health Workforce. 2010.
15. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. A situation
analysis: Neglected Tropical Diseases in Bangladesh, December 2010.
16. MUPFASONI, D., MONTRESOR, A., MIKHAILOV, A., KING, J. The Impact of Lymphatic
Filariasis Mass Drug Administration Scaling Down on Soil-Transmitted Helminth
Control in School-Age Children. Present Situation and Expected Impact from 2016
to 2020. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2016; 10 (12): e0005202.
17. World Health Organization (WHO). Global program to eliminate lymphatic pilariasis:
progress report, 2015, Weekly epidemiological Report, n. 39 2016.
El programa de eliminación de la filariasis linfática en Bangladesh
Medicina y Ética 2019/2 399
18. AMAZIGO, U.V., LEAK, S.G., ZOURE, H.G., NJEPUOME, N., LUSAMBA-DIKASSA, P.S.
Community-driven interventions can revolutionise control of neglected tropical diseases.
Trends in Parasitology 2012; 28 (6): 231-238.
19. World Health Organization (WHO). Global Strategy on Human Resources for
Health. Workforce 2030. 2016.
20. TAGLIAFERRI, E. Village health workers: il ruolo delle comunità locali nei programmi
sanitari dei paesi poveri. Saluteinternazionale.info (http://www.salute
internazionale.info/2009/08/village-health-workers-il-ruolo-delle-comunitalocalinei-
programmi-sanitari-dei-paesi-poveri/?pdf=2754).
21. ADAMS, A.M., RABBANI, A., AHMED, S., MAHMOOD, S.S., AL-SABIR, A., RASHID,
S.F., EVANS, T.G. Explaining equity gains in child survival in Bangladesh: scale,
speed, and selectivity in health and development. Lancet 2013; 382 (9909): 2027-
2037.
22. KOLACZINSKI, J.H., KABATEREINE, N.B., ONAPA, A.W., NDYOMUGYENYI, R., KAKEMBO,
ASL AND BROOKER, S. Neglected tropical diseases in Uganda: the prospect
and challenge of integrated control. Trends Parasitol 2007; 23 (10-13): 485-493.
23. KATABARWA, M.N., RICHARDS, F.O. Jr. Community-directed health (CDH) workers
enhance the performance and sustainability of CDH programmes: experience
from ivermectin distribution in Uganda. Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology
2001; 95 (3): 275-286.
24. World Health Organization (WHO). Community-clinic in Bangladesh: bringing
health care to the doorsteps of rural people. 2017 (http://www.searo.who.int/mediacentre/
events/community-clinics-bangladesh-tory/en/).
25. U.S. Agency for International Development. Community Clinic in Bangladesh
Sets a New Standard of Care, 2014. Bangladesh Nutrition Profile (http://
www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1864/USAIDBangladesh_NCP.pdf).
26. KARIM, R.M., ABDULLAH, M.S., RAHMAN, A.M., ALAM, A.M. Identifying role of perceived
quality and satisfaction on the utilization status of the community clinic services;
Bangladesh context. BMC Health Services Research 2016; 16: 204.
27. SEN, A. What’s happening in Bangladesh? Lancet 2014; Dec. 21.
28. AHMED, S.M., EVANS, T.G., STANDING, H., MAHMUD, S. Harnessing pluralism for
better health in Bangladesh. Lancet 2013; 382: 1746-1755.
29. SEN, A. Human Rights and Capabilities. Journal of Human Development 2005;
6(2): 151-166.
30. SEN A. Lo sviluppo è libertà. Perché non c’è crescita senza democrazia. Milano:
Mondadori; 2011.
31. KABEER, N., SULAIMAN, M. Assessing the Impact of Social Mobilization: Nijera
Kori and the Construction of Collective Capabilities in Rural Bangladesh. Journal
of Human Development and Capabilities 2015; 16 (1): 47-68.
32. ROHDE, J.E. Health in Bangladesh: lessons and challenges. Lancet 2014; 383
(9922): 1036-1037.
33. World Health Organization (WHO). Commission on Social Determinants of
Health. Closing gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants
of health; 2008.
E. Mancini
400 Medicina y Ética 2019/2
34. LAWN, .J.E., ROHDE, J., RIFKIN, S., WERE, M., PAUL, V.K., CHOPRA M. Alma-Ata
30 years on: revolutionary, relevant, and time to revitalise. Lancet 2008; 372
(9642): 917-927.
35. DREZE, J., SEN, A. La crescita come strumento di sviluppo e non come fine in
sé. Italianieuropei 1/2012 (http://www.italianieuropei.it/it/italianieuropei-1-2012/
item/2435-lacrescita-come-strumento-di-sviluppo-e-non-fine-in-se.html).
36. AFSANA, K., WAHID, S.S. Health care for poor people in the urban slums of
Bangladesh. Lancet 2013; 382 (9910): 2049-2051.
37. ADAMS, A.M., AHMED, T., El ARIFEEN, S., EVANS, T.G., HUDA T., REICHENBACH, L;
Lancet Bangladesh Team. Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh:
a call to action. Lancet 2013; 382 (9910): 2104-2111.
38. World Health Organization (WHO). Making fair choices on the path to universal
health coverage; 2014.
39. Alma Ata Declaration on primary health care. Alma Ata; 1978.
40. World Health Organization (WHO). Universal Health Coverage: supporting
country needs; 2012.