The Health and Family Welfare Department would organise a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) round for elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in seven endemic districts of the State.
In this regard, an inaugural ceremony would be held in Sambalpur district by the department in collaboration with the Global Health Strategies on March 7. The objective is to create mass awareness about the benefits of the anti-filarial drug to eliminate LF from the State.
The MDA round would be held till March 16 in Bargarh, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts.
Health and Family Welfare Department Special Secretary Ajit Kumar Mohanty said, “During MDA rounds, all safety precautions (hand hygiene, mask and physical distancing) will be followed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”
“It will further be ensured that eligible beneficiaries in the endemic districts must consume anti-filarial drugs in the presence of health workers. Everyone except children below two years, pregnant women and seriously ill people must consume the prescribed dosage during the rounds in the presence of trained health workers” Mohanty added.
He stressed, “Under this programme, the participation of community is extremely crucial. With the commitment towards elimination of Filariasis, it is very important for public representatives, officials, health workers and the community to make the filariasis elimination programme a public movement”.
He also stated, “If beneficiaries in large numbers consume anti-filaria drugs, it will break the chain of transmission”.
Public Health Director Dr Niranjan Mishra said filaria is a serious public health problem which is spread by mosquito bites.