By Our Correspondent
Lucknow: The ambitious National Filariasis Elimination Program has taken a significant stride forward with the initiation of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) rounds in 27 out of 50 districts affected by filariasis in Uttar Pradesh.
The campaign, which will commence from August 10. aims to administer crucial medications to combat the debilitating disease that has plagued communities for far too long.
The districts targeted for MDA include Auraiya, Bahraich, Balrampur, Basti, Deoria, Etawah, Farukhabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Kannauj, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Rae Bareilly, Santakbir Nagar, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, and Sultanpur.
In these districts, individuals will receive a combination of two drugs – Ivermectin. and Albendazole. Additionally, districts like Chandauli, Fatehpur, Hardoi, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Kaushambi, Kheri, Mirzapur, and Sitapur will benefit from a three-drug approach – D.E.C. in conjunction with Albendazole and Ivermectin.
In a bid to enhance public awareness and foster collaboration, a media workshop was organized by the Department of Medical and Health, Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with Global Health Strategies.
Dr. Bhanu Pratap Singh Kalyani, Additional Director of Vector Borne Disease at the Medical and Health Department of Uttar Pradesh accentuated the program’s potential to rid the state of filaria, an ailment triggered by mosquito bites that can inflict severe damage on the lymphatic system, leading to abnormal swelling if left unchecked.
Chronic conditions like hydrocele (scrotal swelling), lymphedema (organ swelling), and chyluria (milky white urine) can debilitate individuals socially, disrupting their ability to earn a livelihood.
Dr. Kalyani elucidated the framework of the MDA campaign, wherein trained health personnel will distribute anti-filarial medicines door-to-door and at designated booths, extending this vital service across all strata of society, free of cost.
Dr. V.P. Singh, State Program Officer said children under the age of 2, pregnant women, and those in critical health conditions should refrain from consuming the medicines.
Addressing concerns about safety, Dr. Singh said that people with common conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis can safely consume these medicines. However, symptoms like vomiting, dizziness, itching, or nausea post-consumption could indicate the presence of filariasis, as the medication eliminates the parasites, he said.
To ensure a swift response to any difficulties arising from the medication, Dr. Singh underscored the availability of quick-response teams in each block. He further highlighted that the complete elimination of filariasis from the state is achievable if the entire community embraces the annual administration of these medicines for five consecutive years.
The event witnessed the participation of officials from the Medical and Health Department of Uttar Pradesh, alongside representatives from partner organizations including the World Health Organization, PATH, Project Concern International, CFAR, Global Health Strategies, and local media entities.
As Uttar Pradesh steps up its battle against filariasis, the collaborative efforts of these stakeholders promise a brighter, healthier future for the state’s residents, Anuj Ghosh from Global Health Strategies, said.
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