The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), on Friday launched the 2025 phase of Guyana’s national campaign to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (filaria), a mosquito-borne disease that has affected communities for more than a century.
The official launch took place on the tarmac of the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, marking a renewed effort to achieve a filariasis-free Guyana by 2030.
Health Minister Frank Anthony said the campaign represents a key milestone in Guyana’s pursuit of the World Health Organisation’s disease elimination targets.
“This morning, we continue a journey that began many years ago; a journey to rid our nation of a disease that has caused pain, disfigurement, and suffering for generations. We now have the science, the medicines, and the global support to finish this work once and for all,” Dr Anthony said.
Eight of Guyana’s ten regions have already recorded infection rates below the one per cent elimination threshold set by the WHO. The current campaign will focus on Regions Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) and Four (Demerara–Mahaica) to achieve full national elimination.
Lymphatic filariasis is transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes, including Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes species. The infection can lead to lymphoedema and elephantiasis, conditions that cause severe swelling, disability, and social stigma.
The ministry has identified mass drug administration (MDA) as the most effective method to break the transmission cycle, using a combination of Albendazole, Diethylcarbamazine (DEC), and Ivermectin to remove the worms from the human body.
More than 639 trained personnel, including pill distributors and supervisors, will conduct house-to-house visits in Regions Three and Four to provide information and administer the medication. Monitoring and verification will be conducted daily with PAHO/WHO support.
“Our success depends not only on science but on people, we must reach every home, talk to every family, and ensure that everyone understands why taking these tablets matters. This is how we protect each other and our nation,” Dr Anthony said.
Guyana’s battle against filaria dates back to the early 1900s, with past interventions yielding partial success. The current triple-drug therapy, known as IDA (Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine, and Albendazole), has proven to be far more effective when administered correctly. Anthony reaffirmed the goal of achieving complete elimination by 2030.
Beyond lymphatic filariasis, Anthony said the Ministry is advancing efforts to eliminate other infectious diseases, including Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, leprosy, hepatitis C, and malaria. Regional training sessions with PAHO experts have strengthened leprosy elimination, with no new cases reported among children.
In the fight against hepatitis C, treatment costs have dropped from over US$1,500 to under US$100 per patient through PAHO-negotiated access, enabling free treatment nationwide. Meanwhile, the malaria programme is shifting from control to elimination in endemic Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9.
“As we fight these ancient diseases, we must free up space to deal with new and emerging infections. COVID-19 showed us the importance of preparedness. We must build resilient systems to respond swiftly to whatever comes next,” he said.
Residents in Regions Three and Four are being urged to support the campaign. Children under two, pregnant women, and severely ill persons are exempted from taking the medication.
“Let’s work hard together over the next few weeks to make this programme the most successful in our country’s history,” the minister said.
PAHO/WHO Country Representative Kim Dickson said the campaign forms part of the PAHO Elimination Initiative, a regional strategy aimed at ending more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
“Our goal is simple yet profound, to improve the quality of life for people and communities. And we know that this is possible. The Americas have proven that elimination is achievable when we work together. Today, Guyana stands once again as a trailblazer in public health,” Dickson said.
Guyana is among the first countries to adopt the integrated elimination approach targeting seven priority diseases, including lymphatic filariasis, canine rabies, and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
