Sulochana Sahoo, left, helps to care for her mother, Shantilata. Shantilata is one of 23,000 people who will continue to be treated for lymphatic filariasis thanks to this successful campaign.

LF Program Continues in India

Christopher Glass/IMA

Alyssa Milano, Tonic.com and the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (GNNTD) successfully raised $75,000 in one week to fund a lymphatic filariasis (LF) program supported by IMA World Health.

In December 2010, IMA World Health and its partner CASA (the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action) completed a 3-year program in the Orissa State of India that helped more than 23,000 people manage the effects of LF.

Now, with this support, the program can continue for another year.

Lymphatic filariasis is caused by parasitic worms transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. As the worms grow, they cause severe damage and swelling in the body. Elephantiasis, the painful swelling of the legs and genitals is a classic late-stage sign of the disease.

Thanks to Alyssa Milano, Tonic.com, the GNNTD and the many donors world-wide who made this possible.