The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has been appointed by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to provide carefully considered evidence-based strategic and technical guidance and recommendations to the Anti-Filariasis Campaign (AFC) to achieve total elimination of lymphatic Filariasis in Sri Lanka.

The TAG comprises 17 permanent members with a broad range of expertise in the fields relevant to filaria control and elimination, which include parasitology, epidemiology, pharmacology, general medicine, general surgery, dermatology & vector control. Members have been selected basically on their capacities to provide expertise and guidance to the AFC.It is chaired by the DGHS and also includes members from the Ministry of Health at the central and regional levels including medical officers at AFC and Regional Medical Officers-Filariasis

The TAG functions purely in an advisory capacity to provide advice and recommendations to the DGHS and Director AFC. The Ministry of Health supports and provides facilities and resources to conduct meetings and relevant activities of the TAG. The membership of the TAG is reviewed every 3 years and revised accordingly. The TAG is convened twice a year on a pre-determined date, and additional meetings may be called if and when necessary.

 

Functions of the Committee

  • To identify strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities in the implementation status of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) towards elimination including case detection and diagnosis and to make recommendations
  • To identify issues in treatment, morbidity management and preventive aspects of LF and make recommendations
  • To identify issues in adaptation and implementation of recommendations given by WHO programme review/missions and make recommendations to overcome such issues
  • To identify nationally important and timely needed operational research and training needs related to LF and make recommendations
  • To provide technical guidance/recommendations on the preparation of policies, guidelines, concept papers and grant applications, etc. when necessary
  • To review and make recommendations on special working groups and committees
  • To make recommendations when prioritization of activities is needed
  • To provide recommendations on programme implementation and achieving elimination targets