Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Sandeep Chaudhary said that the Filaria Integrated Treatment Centre at the Institute of Applied Dermatology (IAD) in the Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital located at Chowkaghat is proving to be a boon for the patients as its provides treatment of severe filariasis (elephantiasis) patients through Ayurvedic, allopathy and yoga methods and the centre. He also said that the centre is making an important contribution towards a filaria-free India. The CMO expressed these views while visiting the centre and interacted with all the facilities and staff along with the filariasis patients on Thursday. ACMO Dr SS Kanojia and biologist Dr Amit Kumar Singh were also present with him. The CMO said that on the initiative of state government and Union Ministry of AYUSH, the centre is being operated by IAD, Kerala with the financial support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). “The centre was started on March 15 this year and since then, 120 serious filariasis patients have been admitted here. Out of these, treatment of 113 patients has been completed while treatment of seven patients is underway,” he said, adding that eight health workers including two allopathy nurses, one yoga therapist, four multipurpose paramedical staff and one technical coordinator are supporting an Ayurveda doctor at the centre and at present, 13 bedded wards for men and women are ready at the centre. The CMO has directed the superintendents and in-charge medical officers of all block level health centres to ensure that serious (above grade three) filariasis patients are immediately referred to the IAD Filaria Integrated Treatment Centre. He said under the direction of IAD Director Dr SR Narhari, this centre is providing better facilities to the patients. For screening, treatment etc related to filariasis, any person can contact the centre through its helpline number 9567283334 every day from 9 am to 5 pm.

vaccination drive:  Special vaccination campaign to protect children from tetanus- diphtheria (TD), diphtheria (whooping cough), pertussis (kali khansi) and tetanus (DPT) pertussis began in various government and private schools in the district and the same will continue till November 10. The children aged five to 16 years were vaccinated in various schools including Tulsi Niketan School in Lanka and Bhogavir Mahamana Madan Mohan School in Sankat Mochan here on Thursday.  CMO Dr Sandeep Chaudhary said the special campaign has been started to vaccinate school going children with DPT and TD, which will be conducted in all government and private sector schools of the district till November 10.