Status of Lymphatic Filariasis in Security Challenged Areas of Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

National lymphatic filariasis elimination programme (NLFEP) of Federal Ministry of Health sets to provide status of LF in the country before 2020. Borno State, situated in the North East political zone of Nigeria with an estimated population of 4.1million had been enmeshed in insurgency for over a decade. Following an initial mapping between 2008 and 2016 in 16 LGAs out of 27 LGAs, it became imperative that the status of LF in the remaining 11 LGAs of Borno State be ascertained in order to have complete data for planning and policy. Using stratified sampling method, eleven communities were selected from the 11 LGAs namely: Abadam, Ngala, Guzamala, Ngazai, Gubio, Mafa, Jere, Biu, Bayo, Askirin/Uba, and Kwayar Kusar. Blood samples were obtained from consented 990 participants and filarial test strip (FTS) were employed to determine their LF status between November 2017 and February 2018. Of the 990 consented participants only 15 (1.5%) were positive for lymphatic filariasis. Ten cases of hydrocele in men were observed in 4 communities namely Bunari (3), Peta (3), Zaramiramga (2) and Uba (2). Considering the number of positive cases by FTS and hydrocele, result showed that hydrocele accounted for 66.7% of the total positive cases within the positive communities. It is advised that the State health workers should continue to properly educate communities on health programmes including LF preventive measures. Also both Federal Ministry of Health and State Ministry of Health sensitize health partners to start LF treatment and morbidity management in all positive communities to fast track elimination of LF.