Sharing Project Insights with Eisai Staff
Online briefing delivered to Eisai employees
On 6 March 2026, the project team were invited by the Sustainability Department of Eisai Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) to deliver an online briefing for their staff on the project. The session was led by the Project Chief Advisor, using slides and photos from the field. Despite being held over the lunch hour in Japan, more than 60 staff members joined, showing strong interest in the work.
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the project supports efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) under the leadership of the National Department of Health (NDoH). Diethylcarbamazine (DEC), one of the key medicines used in Mass Drug Administration (MDA), is donated by Eisai through the World Health Organization (WHO). Working alongside NDoH, the project supports logistics and the distribution of medicines and activity supplies from Port Moresby to the provinces, as well as providing technical oversight for MDA activities. This has led to ongoing collaboration with Eisai.
During the session, the Chief Advisor shared some of the practical challenges of delivering supplies in areas with limited infrastructure and how these are managed on the ground. The discussion sparked a wide range of questions, from how donor support is viewed by the PNG government to the rationale behind medicines used in MDA (including azithromycin), mosquito vectors in PNG, cost structures on MDA, and the realities of last-mile delivery.
We also acknowledged the contribution of Eisai and other pharmaceutical companies that provide essential medicines free of charge. These partnerships - combining public-sector efforts with private-sector expertise - play an important role in advancing LF elimination. We will continue working closely with partners to build on this progress.
Online session (JICA PNG Office)
Eisai social media post (Facebook)
Reference
Eisai Co., Ltd. social media posts on this session (Facebook), 11 April 2026 (external link)
Supporting Safe Field Activities During and After COVID-19
Alongside the provision of DEC, Eisai also donated around 50,000 disposable masks and 35,000 pairs of gloves to support COVID-19 response efforts in PNG. These were distributed by the National Department of Health (NDoH) and its partners and were used mainly during LF mass drug administration activities.
The supplies helped ensure that fieldwork could continue safely during the pandemic, supporting both infection prevention and the smooth delivery of activities on the ground.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for Eisai’s support and its significant contribution to these efforts.
Table 1. Distribution of COVID-19 support supplies donated by Eisai
| Period | Province | Activity | Item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Around April 2022 | East New Britain Province (ENBP) | 2nd LF Mass Drug Administration (MDA) | Disposable masks Disposable gloves |
28,000 units (14 boxes) 20,000 units (20 boxes) |
| Around November 2023 | West New Britain Province (WNBP) | 1st LF Mass Drug Administration (MDA) | Disposable masks Disposable gloves |
22,000 units (11 boxes) 15,000 units (15 boxes) |
Health worker wearing disposable gloves while distributing LF medicines to community members (Mosa Health Centre, West New Britain Province, November 2023)
Health worker wearing a disposable mask while at registration point (near Kimbe, West New Britain Province, December 2023)
Reference
Eisai Co., Ltd., “Letter of Appreciation from the Government of PNG for COVID-19 Support,” 30 August 2021 (external link)