By Caroline Katana
For more than two decades, Mwanasha Ali Mwamakongo from Biga Silewe village in Msambweni Kwale county has lived with swollen limbs, searing pain, and the stigma of lymphatic filariasis, a neglected tropical disease commonly known as elephantiasis.
“I woke up one morning unable to stand. My leg burned, I vomited, and later the swelling made walking impossible. I tried herbal remedies, but they never worked,” she recalls.
Her turning point came during a community health outreach in Madango village, where health workers supported by Amref Health Africa introduced her to proper treatment and home-based care.
She is among 534 patients screened in 2024 during the county’s first major case-finding exercise.
“The medicines and exercises I was taught have eased the pain. I still have swelling, but I feel much better. I encourage others with swollen legs like mine to seek hospital care instead of traditional healers,” Mwanasha says.
County at the Frontline
Lymphatic filariasis is caused by parasitic worms transmitted by mosquitoes. It damages the lymphatic system, leading to painful swelling of limbs and lifelong disability if untreated.
Kwale is one of Kenya’s coastal counties identified as endemic for the disease.
The Kwale County Department of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has intensified annual mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns in high-risk areas.
Residents receive a combination of albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC), medicines that kill the parasites and interrupt transmission.
According to Tunu Kasongo, a Dermato-venerology Officer at Lungalunga , awareness is steadily improving.
“We are seeing more people come forward for screening and treatment after sensitization drives. Early detection is crucial because it helps us manage symptoms before they become disabling,” Kasongo noted.
Amref’s Community Approach
While prevention is critical, managing chronic cases is equally important. Amref Health Africa has partnered with county health teams to restore dignity to patients through an integrated approach.
In Kwale, the organisation supports nurses and patients by supplying medicines, soap, and basins for home-based care of swollen limbs.
It also trains community health promoters, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to educate families on prevention and management.
In addition, Amref facilitates surgical camps for men suffering from hydrocele, a painful condition linked to the disease.
These combined interventions not only reduce suffering but also chip away at stigma. Myths that once linked the swelling to witchcraft are giving way to better understanding, encouraging more patients to seek medical help.
Lives Restored
For Mwanasha’s husband, Juma Omar Zamu, the changes are clear.
Mwanasha husband Juma Omar Zamu
“Some people told me to return her to her family when she got sick, but I stood by her. We tried everything, even traditional healers, until doctors stepped in. Now she can walk again, and I’m hopeful she will fully recover,” he said.
With stronger county programs and Amref’s support, Kwale is gradually breaking the silence around lymphatic filariasis and giving patients a chance at healthier, more dignified lives.
For Mwanasha, each day of relief is a step toward normalcy.
“I want to get back to my business and support my family once again. With these medicines and the care, I’m receiving, I believe it can happen,” she says.
Ends.
