Lok Sabha Question No. 929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Lymphatic Filariasis
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, DNV Senthilkumar. S.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 929 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 TH FEBRUARY, 20 20

## LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS

## 929. SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI: DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE: SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE: DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has highest burden of Lymphatic Filariasis , if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the States/UTs which are most affected;
- (b)  whether  India  has  hoisted  the  10th  Meeting  of  Global  Alliance  to  Eliminate  Lymph Filariasis  (GAELF),  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  numbe r  of  foreign  delegates  who participated in the meeting;
- (c) the points/issues discussed in the said meeting and the outcome thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has launched the Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lympha Filariasis targeting eliminat ion of Lymphatic Filariasis considering as a public health problem 2020 by adopting newer approaches such as triple - drug therapy, if so, the success achieved so far; and
- (e)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance  awareness  among  the  affec ed communities about the LF and its elimination permanently?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a):   Yes.  India contributes to about 40% of global Lymphatic Filariasis( LF) cases. It is endemic in 257 districts of 16 States and 5 Union Territories(UTs) and about 650 million people States/UTs are at risk of developing it.  LF, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a disf disabling disease, usually acquired i n childhood.  Since 2004, Line list of Lymphoedema and Hydrocele  cases  are  being  updated  annually  in  the  endemic  States/UTs.  As  per  report December, 2019 (provisional) received from States/UTs, there are 9,21,357 Lymphoedema cas and 3,96,801 Hydrocel e cases. Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha contribute the high number of LF cases.

(b): The Global  Alliance  to  Eliminate  Lymphatic  Filariasis(GAELF) and National  Vector Borne Disease Control Programme(NVBDCP), Ministry of Health & Family We lfare(MoHF&W), Government  of  India  convened  the  10th  GAELF  meeting  at New  Delhi from 13th- 15th June 2018.  As per information made available by WHO India, the meet was attended by over 400 delegates including 350 International participants from 42 countri es. The participants included representatives from Health Ministries of various countries, acad research  institutions,  international  development  agencies  &  foundations  and  other  p organizations  including  the  World  Health  Organization,  Bill  &  Me linda  Gat s  Foundation, London School of Tropical Medicine -Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTD Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Prof. Charles Mackenzie, Chair GAELF.

(c ):The main points discussed in the meeting were:

- i. Launch of 'Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis 2018'
2. ii.Launch  of  Triple  Drug  Therapy  (IDA)announced  in  five  districts  named  Arwal  (Bihar) Simdega(Jharkhand), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Yadgir (Karnataka).
- iii. Awards given to 11 countries -Cambodia, Cook Islands, Egypt, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Niue,  Sri  Lanka,  Thailand,  Togo,  Tonga  and  Vanuatu,  for  successfully  interrupting transmission of LF in their countries.
4. iv.Need  for  integration  with  different  departmen ts  such  as  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  and integration  with  deworming  programme  for  mobilizing  the  community  to  achieve  LF elimination by good coverage of mass drug administration.

(d): Yes.  The MoH&FW has launched the 'Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis 2018'and and successfully implemented the Triple Drug Therapy (IDA) programme in selected  five  districts  named  Arwal  (Bihar),  Simdega  (Jharkhand),  Varanasi  (Uttar  Prad Nagpur  (Maharashtra)  and  Yadgir  (Karnataka).    Eleven  more districts  of  Uttar  Pradesh  have implemented IDA  during  December,  2019.  One  district  Tapi  in  Gujarat  has  initiat implementation of IDA in Jan. 2020.  It is expected that 2 - 3 rounds of IDA with more than 85% coverage and compliance rate would help bring ab out elimination of LF.

(e): Steps taken by Government to enhance awareness about LF:

- The  amount  allocation  for  Information  Education  Communication(IEC)  has  been increased.
- Involving community, school teachers and school children.
- Direct involvement of District Magistrates during Mass Drug Administration.
- Media sensitization
- Innovative IEC material
- Advocacy at the highest political level in the State.