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Eisai Co., Ltd.
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Although I am currently working at the World Health Organization (WHO)
Headquarters in Geneva, I have worked as a scientist at WHO for over
20 years and in that time have been involved in various projects to
eradicate tropical diseases, including mosquito-borne communicable
diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and malaria. What has always struck
me as particularly important when carrying out these initiatives is that
we are able to see and experience local conditions firsthand. Actually
setting foot in the areas where the disease is endemic affects us more
directly on an emotional level and as a result we are often better able to
get to the heart of the matter in terms of accomplishing the task at hand.
WHO is currently supporting endemic countries to implement mass drug
administration-based campaigns for entire endemic populations in 53
out of 73 countries where lymphatic filariasis remains, with the aim of
interrupting transmission of this disease. Nevertheless, convincing 500
million people from a wide diversity of ethnic backgrounds, belief systems
and cultures to consent to taking the medicine is no simple feat. It is only
natural to have doubts when faced with the decision of whether or not to
accept medication from a stranger. For an individual to be willing to take
the medicine tends to rest heavily on whether the good intentions and
sense of conviction on the part of the ones providing the medicine are
adequately conveyed. Even then, to be able to feel at ease after taking
the tablets, too, further depends on the establishment of mutual trust.
It is being able to understand each other on this point that becomes so
crucial for these projects to succeed. Ultimately, for people who may
not be accustomed to the practice of taking medicine in their day-to-
day lives, there is no other way than to appeal to their humanity. As
people, I think, we all want to reduce the suffering in our lives as much
as possible; no matter what the country or cultural background of the
individual, I think that this is something to which we can all relate and that
we all share as human beings.
In the Republic of Kiribati, an equatorial nation in the Pacific Ocean,
I remember asking a patient who had developed elephantiasis due to
lymphatic filariasis if I could take his photograph for use in a disease
education poster. Full of joy, he told me how happy he was that he,
someone who was unable to walk unassisted and who was entirely
dependent on those around him, might help somebody out there by
having his picture taken. The experience reaffirmed my belief that
no matter who we are, being able to contribute to others and play
a meaningful role in our community offers us hope. The desire to rid
our society of disease for the sake of the next generation, I think, is
something universal.
In the late 1970s, Japan became one of the first countries in the world
to successfully eliminate lymphatic filariasis. The worldwide program
that continues to be implemented by the WHO today is the heritage of
those initial seeds planted and nurtured by Japanese, including Japan’s
own success in eradicating the disease as evidence that the vision is
indeed attainable and the country’s ongoing support for numerous
initiatives to eradicate communicable diseases ever since. Among
these, the development and supply of reliable medicines play a vital
role and I am delighted to think that Eisai, a Japanese pharmaceutical
company, is providing DEC tablets toward eliminating this disease. I
would love to see more industry–government–academia partnerships
being established in Japan based on the initiative of Japanese and a
more open show of support from groups and individuals in that country
to better raise public awareness for this cause. Japan has played such
a pioneering role in the planting of those seeds and I believe that now
is the time for us to participate in what could be called the “harvest
period” in terms of combating lymphatic filariasis worldwide. I urge all
supporters in Japan to continue to actively participate in the program
and play a greater role in harvesting the fruits of what is also our own
labor as Japanese.
There are still many people suffering from lymphatic filariasis around
the world, with an estimated more than 120 million people currently
infected in emerging and developing countries. Japan possesses the
technology to eliminate this disease and so it follows that we also share
the responsibility to contribute. It was this belief that first led me to
become involved in the fight against tropical diseases. I cannot imagine
anything more wonderful than to be able to change the current situation
to one where, in the next generation, people will be able to look at a
photograph of a patient with elephantiasis and say, “So in the past,
people had to go through life suffering from diseases like filariasis....”
Firsthand Experience Is the First Step in
Eliminating Tropical Diseases
Encouraging More Japanese to Openly and
Proactively Show Their Support for Our Cause
* Elephantiasis: See related information on page 11.
Mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis
©WHO/DEC Bangladesh
Increasing Patient Satisfaction
Opinion from a Global Health Expert
Dr. Ichimori has been a scientist at the
WHO since 1992. After working on
control of filariasis, malaria, dengue and
other vector-borne diseases at country
and regional levels, she was appointed in
charge of Integrated Vector Management,
the Department of Control of Neglected
Tropical Diseases at the WHO
Headquarters in Geneva. Since 2010, she
is responsible for the Global Programme
to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in the
same department. Her previous work with
the WHO has seen her involved in various
initiatives to control and eliminate vector-
borne diseases in Africa, Central and
South America, and island nations in the
Pacific.
Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases
(NTDs) by 2020
Dr. Kazuyo Ichimori
Scientist, World Health Organization
(WHO) Headquarters, Geneva
