The First Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting for the project for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis Phase 2
The first JCC meeting for the project for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Phase 2 was held in Port Moresby on the 28th of June. The JICA LF project team, Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Department of Health (NDoH), Provincial Health Authority (PHA), World Health Organization (WHO), JICA PNG office and others attended the meeting to discuss the project progress, upcoming plans and issues in each target province.
Convening the representatives from PHA of the seven target provinces (with one province absent this time), the JCC meeting was held to disseminate the project overview, report the progress of activities from provinces that implemented Mass Drug Administration (MDA) last year, and share their experience in MDA from those provinces that have implemented MDA in the past to those that have not yet.
The primary goal of the MDA implementation is to eliminate microfilariae in LF-affected people and interrupt the transmission of LF to the next generation by administering drugs to an entire population in a province (excluding exceptions, such as pregnant women, etc.). To achieve this, extensive human, material, and financial resources are invested within a limited implementation period despite various challenges such as budget constraints, security issues, and geographical factors (hard-reach areas). This is an extremely massive public health activity for PHA, the programme's substantive implementing organization. In addition, collaboration with NDoH, other public and private organisations in each province, relevant associations and stakeholders is essential for its implementation.
The presentations, discussions and upcoming plans for this JCC are as follows.
Presentations and Discussions:
- Project overview and activities in 2023
- Successes, challenges and lessons learnt of 1st MDA in WNBP in 2023
- Successes, challenges and lessons learnt of MDA and IIS (IDA Impact Survey) in East New Britain Province (ENBP)
- Successes, challenges and lessons learnt of MDA and Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) in New Ireland Province (NIP)
- LF and other NTDs (Neglected Tropical Diseases) situation in East Sepik Province (ESP)
- Summary and outcomes of the LF program, 2023 and planned activities in the future
- Discussion: Managing the sustainable project budget
Upcoming Plans:
- Preparations for MDA in WNBP, ESP, West Sepik (WSP)
- Plans for TAS in NIP
- Plans for "Mapping" surveys to access the LF prevalence in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) and Manus Province
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) continues to collaborate with various donors and partners to further activities towards LF elimination.
For more information
2024.07.02_The First Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting for the project for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis(JICA PNG Office)
Group photo
Roadmap for LF elimination