It is with immense sadness and grief that we learnt of the sudden demise of Dr C.P. Ramachandran (fondly known to friends and colleagues as “CP”) on Saturday 12 January 2019.
Dr Ramachandran, a renowned parasitologist and Professor Emeritus, will be remembered for his work and invaluable contribution to the control and elimination of lymphatic filariasis worldwide.
After studying in his native Malaysia and later in Chennai (formerly Madras) India, Dr Ramachandran pursued graduate and postgraduate studies in London, Liverpool (UK) and Tulane (USA).
Initially, in WHO’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Dr Ramachandran worked on research capacity strengthening before moving on to work on filariasis. As Chief of Filariasis Research and Control, Dr Ramachandran initiated basic and applied research towards finding new methods to improve the treatment, control and elimination of lymphatic filariasis and also onchocerciasis.
He worked closely with fellow global experts to prepare a strategic plan for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis for adoption by the Fiftieth World Health Assembly in 1997 (WHA 50.29), which culminated in the implementation of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) in 2000.
Since then, and with the support of partners, GPELF has been instrumental in lowering the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis. Many countries have successfully eliminated the disease as a public health problem, and an increasing number of other countries are making impressive progress towards reaching this target.
After his retirement, Dr Ramachandran worked as a WHO Consultant and served as advisor to many organizations, foundations and ministries of health of countries endemic for lymphatic filariasis. He also chaired WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Lymphatic Filariasis and was part of the Regional Programme Review Group in WHO’s Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions.
Dr Ramachandran published several papers on lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis and was the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his contribution to tropical medicine, including the first Sandosham Gold Medal awarded by the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (1974) and the Mary Kingsley Medal awarded by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (1999).
In 2014, he published his biography entitled ‘I am … because of you”. A video summary is beautifully captured here.
Dr Ramachandran will be remembered for his vision of a world free of lymphatic filariasis and for his optimism, commitment and dedication. His memory will live on with WHO colleagues because of his pleasant personality, sharp wit and sense of humour. In a recent interview, he summarized his thoughts in a poignant reminder:
“My whole life, whatever I have achieved, is not because of me, but because of others.”
WHO extends its deepest condolences to his family and friends.