Lymphatic Filariasis: Analysis of morbidity in Burkina Faso

The National Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) was launched in Burkina Faso in 2001. Since then the prevalence of the disease in the health districts has fallen considerably thanks to mass drug treatment. However after 18 years of managing the chronic complications of the disease the socio-sanitary situation of the victims is still worrying particularly in the districts that are still endemic. LF is very often superimposed on poverty misery and even social exclusion. The physical psychological and social suffering experienced by these chronically ill people is likely to aggravate their already precarious living conditions.In the course of our investigation we realised that this Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) is the prerogative of particularly deprived social strata in hostile environments. This is why measures aimed at directly supporting those affected in their respective communities must be undertaken as soon as possible if we are to hope for a Burkina Faso completely free of this disease and its burden.