Health Minister Banna Gupta on Monday launched a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme against filariasis in at least 12 of 24 affected districts and urged over 1.78 crore beneficiaries to take the necessary medications in a bid to eradicate the vector-borne disease, which mostly affects people in rural areas of Jharkhand.
“We are constantly striving to achieve important health and development goals. Even during this pandemic, we are extremely focused on addressing other health concerns and making our residents healthier,” Gupta said, reassuring that anti-filarial drug were absolutely safe if taken under the supervision of trained drug administrators and doctors.
During the drive, at least two drugs – DEC and Albendazole – will be administered to beneficiaries in 11 districts of the state and three drugs – DEC, Albendazole and Ivermectin – will be administered to beneficiaries in Simdega.
The four-day campaign, scheduled to conclude on August 27, was launched in Giridih, Chatra, Dumka, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Garhwa, Godda, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Lohardaga, Ranchi and Simdega.
National Health Mission director Umashankar Singh said that filariasis is a complex problem of public health and the Health Department is continuously striving and determined for its successful eradication. “The success of the programme is possible only when there is public participation in it,” said Singh.
A total of 71,234 personnel and 7,123 supervisors have been deployed in 12 districts to monitor the programme and to ensure that 1 crore 78 lakh targeted beneficiaries of the population of about 2 crore 2 lakh of the said 12 districts are administered anti-filaria drugs. Rapid response teams have been formed in all the districts to deal with it. During the programme, every day meeting will be held at the block level for smooth running of the campaign.
In a similar campaign run from February 22 to February 27 this year, the state health department had administered anti-filarial drugs to over 70 lakh beneficiaries in four districts – Sahenganj, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Ramgarh.
Filariasis is caused by filarial worms and can trigger abnormal growth in the infected person. The abnormal swelling in legs caused by Filariasis is commonly referred to as elephantiasis, said doctors.
The campaign, officials said, will be run under strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior. The booths will be sanitised and all the drug administrators will wear protective gears in order to avoid transmission of Coronavirus during the campaign.