Elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in Malawi

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing severe pain, disfiguring, and disabling clinical conditions such as lymphoedema and hydrocoele. LF is a global public health problem affecting 72 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia. Since 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) has led the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) to support all endemic regions. This paper focuses on the achievements of the Malawi LF Elimination Programme between 2000 and 2020 to eliminate LF as a public health problem, making it the second sub-Saharan country to receive validation from the WHO.