The Anti-Filariasis Campaign (AFC) of the Ministry of Health is the organization that is responsible for filariasis control in the country. It was formed on 24th October 1947. After 1989 provincial-level anti-filariasis units were established in Western, Southern, and North Western Provinces. Currently, there are eight Regional Anti Filariasis Units (RAFUs) established in Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Puttalam, and Kurunegala districts, and the administrative authority lies with the Provincial and Regional Directors of Health Services. Regional Medical Officers (RMOO) supervise the anti-filariasis activities and contribute significantly to the overall efforts in controlling and preventing filaria in the endemic districts.
The Anti-Filariasis Campaign (AFC) formulates national policies, guidelines, strategic plans, monitors and evaluates the activities conducted, conducts operational research, transmission assessment surveys, and national awareness programmes, and provides technical advice to Regional Medical Officers (RMOO) to reach the total elimination target in 2030.
Sri Lanka was declared to have eliminated filariasis as a public health problem in 2016 by the WHO due to the achievement of reduction in the microfilaria rate (MF rate) to less than 1%. This success story is a result of disease surveillance through parasitological and entomological techniques and treatment by our former Directors, Medical Officers, Entomologist, Public Health Field Officers (PHFOO), Public Health Laboratory Technicians (PHLTT), Health Entomological Officers (HEOO), and other staff in headquarters and the regional Anti-filariasis units.
