Anti-LF coalition sets up local units

The Coalition for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in the Philippines (CELF-Philippines) will establish units in the provinces to further support the National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program.

This was revealed during CELF’s planning workshop held recently at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines, Manila.

The workshop, attended by GlaxoSmithKline Foundation (GSKF) executive director Noel Isberto, World Health Organization scientist Dr. Raman Velayudhan, Department of Health national LF coordinator Dr. Leda Hernandez, CELF-Philippines project development officer Edwin Ylagan, DOH-Caraga region LF coordinator Michael Inoya, DOH-Caraga region LHAD Dr. Ernesto Pareja, and Agusan del Sur PHO Dr. Joel Esparagoza, was facilitated by CELF-Philippines chairman Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr.

By implementing CELF in the provincial level, local government units (LGUs), through their respective health units, will become the frontliners in the implementation of the program.

They will be guided by the DOH through the Center for Health Development.

Dr. Adrian Subaan, Surigao del Norte provincial health team leader, welcomes the development, saying it will lessen the burden of implementing MDAs in their area.

"Implementing CELF in the provinces is more of a diffusion of the different tasks involved in MDA like going from one municipality to another to advocate and do blood screening," he said.

Dr. Roland Mira, municipal health officer of Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, said the implementation of a local CELF would be beneficial since one governing body could oversee the implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of the LF program.

"We can also be given technical assistance by the DOH," he added.