In a bid to eliminate filarial, three days ‘Mass Drug Administration’ (MDA) programme was launched across the Bokaro district on Tuesday. With a target to administrate drugs (DEC tablets) free among 85 per cent district population (about 20 lakh) this programme will continued till 7 May, informed AK Poddar of district Malaria department.
“If the target will not achieve within the scheduled date then we will extend out programme for more days to complete 20 lakhs population. District health department also decided to conduct Mop up Round in which left –out villagers would be administrated the drugs”, he added.
“Under the war level mission for the prevention of filarial disease ‘Mass drug Administration’ programme would be launched across the district. “Though identification work will continue to help out the filarial patients be giving them free medicines in form of ‘DEC’ tablets which helps to suffering patients from the pain and woes of the disease”, said Poddar.
Under this programme medicines were freely distributed, our volunteers will move door-to-door to ensure that none would be left from the drug administration. This year we have recognized only 511 filaria patients across the district, he said.
There are strong growths in the number of filarial patients this year. In 2012 only 350 filaria patients were recognized across the district includes 310 of lymphatic filaria patients whereas the rest 40 have hydrosil filarial. Despite MDA programme this year the number of filarial patients was recognized as double than past.
Earlier in the year 2008 there were 7200 filaria patients in Bokaro district; 5732 were of lymphatic filaria patients whereas the rest 1529 were hydrosil filarial patients.