Bangladesh is one of the signatories of the resolution; 70 million Bangladeshis in 32 districts are at the risk of Filariasis. Already 4.49 million people of Bangladesh are infected by this disease. Government of Bangladesh has fixed the target to eliminate the disease by 2015.

Symptoms
Filariasis is known in Bangladesh as "Goth". The most dangerous part of this disease is that no symptom will be visible for many years but the infection may cause even kidney damage in the body.

The worst symptoms of the chronic disease generally appear in adult men more often than in women some 10 per cent-50 per cent of men in the endemic communities, suffer from genetic damage, especially fluid-filled balloon-like enlargement of the sacs around the testes and elephantiasis of the penis and scrotum, elephantiasis of the entire leg, entire arm or breast --swelling up several times than normal.

Damages
1) Permanent long-term disability (second largest cause of disability)

2) Social loss (lost or broken marriage, lost parenthood opportunities)

3) Lost/ diminished economic productivity.

4) Cost of treatment is extra burden for a developing country.

How to cure
According to WHO guideline, Filariasis could be eliminated by yearly single dose of tablet DEC (Diethylcarbamazine) and Albendazole for successive five years. These drugs are prohibited during pregnancy, less than two years old children and extremely ill/ bed ridden patients. To maintain hygiene of the patient, toes and skin folds should be washed with water and soap, dried and medicated cream applied there.

Bangladesh perspective
To achieve the government target of eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis by 2015, MDA (Multi Drug Administration) has been started in November 2001 in Panchagar district with tablet DEC and Albendazole covering a population of 86880. In 2002 MDA was expanded to four districts. In 2003, six districts was covered and it was nine districts in 2004. In 2005 the MDA programme is expanded to 10 districts. NGOs and donor organisations are working at the grassroots level to give common people right idea about the cause of this disease.

The people of the northern districts think that this incurable disease is inherited was curse on someone. The one and only Filaria Hospital in the world is constructed with the support of Embassy of Japan in 2002 at Syedpur in Nilphamari district. Other development partners like World Health Organisation (WHO), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), AUS-AID, Liverpool LF support, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , LEPRA (Leprosy Relief Association) are working with the government of Bangladesh to overcome the threat.

According to WHO report, nine out of 11 South East Asian countries are affected by the disease; 60 million people of the region are suffering from this. Twenty per cent of the global population are at the risk of being infected by Filariasis. Only 7 per cent of the 1100 million people are now seem protected. Only 38 out of the 83 endemic countries are covered by government, donors and national/international NGOs. Still 45 endemic countries need to be taken care of. But the goal of the World Health Organisation is to eradicate Filariasis by the year 2020. It seems a Herculean task. But we shall have to act and act now and together.

Ummee Saila is an NGO activist.