The story of Lymphatic Filariasis elimination as a public health problem from Yemen

•The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Yemen was among the first countries to join the WHO global efforts and initiated a national lymphatic filariasis elimination program (NLFEP) in 2000.•Form the start, the NLFEP was fully integrated with the Leprosy Elimination Programme, supported by both the German Leprosy Relief Association and the Yemen Leprosy Elimination Society.•The district was chosen as the implementation unit (IU) for mass drug administration (MDA). Of 333 districts (Ozla, in local language) in Yemen, 8 districts were eligible for MDA (population of approximately 111,036 people). After five effective MDA rounds (≥80%, albendazole and ivermectin), MDA was stopped in seven IUs in the mainland, and continued in one IU in Socotra island. In 2011 the last MDA was implemented in Socotra IU. The last transmission assessment survey was conducted in 2017, revealing that LF has likely been eliminated as a public health problem.•Morbidity management and disability prevention and training on self-management are provided to 610 lymphoedema patients (379 males and 231 females) and 31 hydrocele patients.•In 2019, after almost two decades of sustained disease control and prevention measures, Yemen was validated by WHO for achieving elimination of LF as a public health problem.