In a massive effort to eliminate a disfiguring disease, the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health is distributing free preventative medicines to nearly 10 million people in a single day.

'Filariasis Prevention Day' on Sunday 27th July is the latest step in the global fight to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF, also known as elephantiasis), a tropical disease that is a leading cause of disfigurement and disability worldwide. There are currently 120 million people affected by LF and a further 1 billion people who live at risk of infection.

The day is part of the global strategy of the Global Alliance to Eliminate LF, a partnership comprising the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministries of Health in LF-endemic countries, and 40 academic, public and private sector organisations. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a founding partner in the Alliance and is donating its albendazole tablets free of charge until the disease is eliminated, a 20 year commitment estimated at 5-6 billion tablets or US$1 billion.

Albendazole, when co-administered to entire endemic communities with one of two other medicines once a year for five years can interrupt transmission of the disease. By breaking the cycle of infection between mosquitoes and humans, the medicines given as part of the programme will spare future generations from the effects of LF. These can include elephantiasis (swelling of the limbs, breasts or genitals with marked thickening of the skin) and hydrocele (fluid-filled enlargement of the sacs around the testes).

Sri Lanka has a total population of 19 million, around 10 million of whom live in LF endemic communities. In April 2003, GSK shipped 10 million albendazole tablets to the Ministry of Health to prepare for the mass distribution in July. Almost 50,000 healthcare workers and volunteers have been recruited for this year's Filariasis Prevention Day.

Mobilising an entire population to come out and receive the medicines is a huge undertaking that involves months of planning and awareness-raising efforts. The Sri Lanka Ministry of Health has undertaken a mass advertising campaign of radio and television broadcasts, public addresses, posters and newspaper advertising. In addition, the healthcare workers have worked with the communities in meetings and group discussions, visited each home and provided information leaflets for each household. On the evening before Filariasis Prevention Day, street parades and radio announcements will herald the coming of the drug distributors.

37 countries are already enrolled in the LF elimination programme.