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Knowledge is Power: Eliminating LF in Nigeria

Over 120 million people in Nigeria are at risk of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), a disease that can lead to enormously swollen body parts and cause pain, disability, and social stigma. Currently, The Carter Center and partners are working in nine states across Nigeria to eliminate this neglected tropical disease.

Attamah-Isiani Egeonu, a key player in the Center’s eradication efforts, is passionate about building community awareness around this debilitating disease. For more than a decade, Egeonu has been coordinating community health education, mobilizing workers, and overseeing the administration of preventive medications.

In this video, Egeonu gives Evelyn Okemwa, an LF-infected woman from Enugu state, Nigeria, valuable information on how to manage her disease and care for her swollen leg to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

“Being a woman and because I’m from the area, I know where our problems are. So I put myself in their shoes and begin to address that,” Egeonu said.

Learn more about the Center's Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program:
https://www.cartercenter.org/health/lf/index.html

Learn more about the Center's work in Nigeria:
https://www.cartercenter.org/countries/nigeria.html

Founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering. The Center wages peace, fights disease, and builds hope worldwide.