Health Programs

How is The Carter Center involved?

Nigeria is the most endemic nation for lymphatic filariasis in Africa and is the third-most endemic country in the world after India and Indonesia. Such compelling statistics and an invitation from the Nigeria Ministry of Health brought The Carter Center and other partners together in an effort to eliminate the disease from Nigeria.

Currently, the Center is working in two states in Nigeria, Plateau and Nasarawa, to demonstrate that the disease can be completely eliminated by distributing the safe combination of Mectizan and albendazole.

In 2004 and 2005, more than 3 million people were treated annually. In a few pilot areas endemic for both lymphatic filariasis and malaria, approximately 57,000 insecticide-treated bed nets, donated by Nigeria's national malaria program, have been distributed. Assessments underway to determine the impact of these interventions have already shown a reduction of greater than 80 percent in lymphatic filariasis in both people and mosquitoes. The significant reduction illustrates the important contribution bed nets can make in the fight against lymphatic filariasis.