Pac Elf - Elimination Of Lymphatic Filariasis in the South Pacific

In 1999 the World Health Organization launched the Pacific Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis as the Pacific arm of the Global Program, which aims to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a Public Health problem by 2020. The two strategies to achieve this goal are:
- the interruption of transmission of filarial infection through either yearly rounds of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) using a combination of 2 drugs (Albendazole and Diethylcarbamazine, in the Pacific) for at least 5 years or through community use of DEC-salt
- to control the LF morbidity to alleviate and prevent the suffering and disability of affected individuals

The Pacific Program is coordinated by a WHO professional staff based in the Office of the WHO Representative for the South Pacific (WHO/SP) in Suva, FIJI. Material, equipment and part of the administration of the program is located at Mataika House, the Fiji Center for Communicable Diseases Control.

In October 2006 the program took new directions under the leadership of the new coordinator and a number of activities have been implemented since then.

Introducing the new Program coordinator

A French and Hungarian National, Dr Corinne CAPUANO holds a Doctorate in Medicine from France with a specialization in Public Health. She also got a Master in Political Sciences, a Master in law applied to medicine and a diploma in tropical and parasitic diseases from the University of Paris. Dr Capuano has been in the Pacific for the past 10 years and has extensive experience in Public Health. She worked for the World Health Organization as an epidemiologist for several years and was the WHO Country Liaison Officer in Vanuatu from 2002 to October 2006. Dr Corinne Capuano moved to the WHO office in Fiji to take the leadership of the Pacific Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in October 2006

Dr Capuano brings to the program her experience and understanding of the front line work at country level, a new and innovative vision, her creativity and enthusiasm.

Dr. Capuano

Introducing the team

• Dr Corinne Capuano, WHO Medical Officer and PacELF coordinator

• Mrs Emma Gibbons, WHO secretary for Dr Capuano

• Mrs Maca Colata, WHO Special Service Agreement, based in Fiji

• Mrs Fuatai Maiava , WHO Special Service Agreement, based in the WHO office in Samoa

• Mrs Norma Sagom, WHO Special Service Agreement, based in the WHO office in Papua New Guinea

• Welcome to a new member of the team: Mr. Tim Bryar

Tim has come to PacELF as part of the Volunteering for International Development from Australia (VIDA) program, AusAID and joined the program on 1^st October 2007. Tim has completed a Master of International Health from Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia, and also has qualifications in behavioural science. He has extensive experience in health promotion and public health, working across a diverse range of topic areas including youth health, HIV and AIDS, & obesity prevention. Tim will be working for the program for 2 years as the assistant coordinator. He replaces Hiroko Watahashi, UNV who left at then end of her contract in February 2007.

In addition WHO malariologists based in the WHO office in Solomon, Dr Jeffrey Hii, in the WHO office of Vanuatu, Dr Seyha Ross and in the WHO in Papua New Guinea, Dr Zaixing Zhang, provide additional support to the country activities in these three countries. Mrs Masayo Ozaki, JOCV assigned to the Ministry of Health is also involved in the design of surveys and management of data of the Program.

Mrs Emma Gibbons

Mrs Maca Colata

Daniel

PacELF team

» Check our News and Events page to know more about the news since October 2006

Lymphatic Filariasis • Waqaqa • Big Leg • Filariasis • Aoraki Man Te Mata • Rektel a Rekas • Mumu Tutupa • Mwirara • Filariasis Pwuur • Moko Pata • Kinal • Te Fu'aa • Va'e Fua • Eke'Eke • Mumu Tutupa • fe'fee • Va'e Fua • Legi Biki