Professor Dato CP Ramachandran

It is with great sadness that GAELF has learned of the recent passing of Professor CP Ramachandran, known to us all as ‘CP’.  
 
CP who, prior to his retirement as Chief of the WHO Filariasis and Research and Control Unit, was responsible for developing the Global Strategy for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis which became a World Health Assembly resolution in 1977. As a result of this initiative, infection rates have been brought down from an original 120 million prevalence to, today, less than 40 million. 
 
After his retirement CP took on advisory roles with WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and various Ministries of Health and served as the Chair of WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Programme Review Group (RPRG) and as a member of the South-East Asia RPRG.  His continued interest included his participation in GAELF biennial meetings, most recently at the 10th meeting in India in June 2018.
 
CP’s continued enthusiasm and wise contributions working with countries, particularly those in the WHO Western Pacific region will be greatly missed. 
 
Dr Adrian Hopkins
On behalf of Professor Charles Mackenzie
GAELF Steering Committee Chair