A two-day national review meeting on the National Filaria Elimination Programme began in Lucknow on Monday, bringing together key health officials and development partners to accelerate India’s drive to eliminate lymphatic filariasis by 2027.
The meeting is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Center for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Addressing the inaugural session virtually, Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary (Health) and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Government of India, reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to making India filaria-free within the next two years. “Our goal is to make India filaria-free by 2027,” she said, urging states to ensure over 95% population coverage in the upcoming Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign beginning February 10, 2026.
She emphasized that the success of the elimination programme hinges on administering anti-filaria drugs under direct supervision and achieving high coverage at the community level. Patnaik also called for effective implementation of the government’s five-pronged strategy, including community engagement, surveillance, and vector control.
Dr. R.P. Singh Suman, Director General (Medical and Health), Government of Uttar Pradesh, reiterated the state’s commitment to the mission, noting that 544 out of 782 blocks (70%) across 51 endemic districts have already brought infection rates below 1%. “Elimination is possible by ensuring every individual in the community consumes anti-filaria medication in front of health workers,” he said, urging for micro-level planning and sustained grassroots interventions.
Dr. Tanu Jain, Director, NCVBDC, highlighted the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration, stating that collective responsibility is vital to protect people from filaria. She commended the progress made across 20 states and union territories, where 143 of 348 endemic districts (41%) have successfully reduced infection rates through effective MDA, surveillance, and vector management.
Dr. Sudarshan Mandal, Senior Chief Medical Officer, NCVBDC, noted that India is moving rapidly toward elimination, expressing confidence that improved coverage, coordination, and data-driven reporting will help meet the 2027 target. He encouraged states to learn from successful models to further strengthen their local strategies.
Over the next two days, participants will deliberate on developing integrated action plans and refining elimination strategies at the central, state, district, and block levels to ensure India’s successful transition to a filaria-free nation by 2027.
The review meeting is being attended by officials from the Government of India, medical colleges, and state health departments of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Assam, along with representatives from the Gates Foundation, WHO, Project Concern International, PATH, Global Health Strategies, and WJCF.