Odisha is set to commence a mass drug administration programme for the eradication of Filaria. The programme, initiated by the Health and Family Welfare department, is scheduled to begin on February 10 and will cover 15 districts in two phases.
Informing about the drive, Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra said, “There are 15 districts in the State where Filaria (Lymphatic Filariasis) is prevalent. The programme will cater to these districts.” The first phase will start on February 10 in eight districts, namely Angul, Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh and Nuapada. Meanwhile, the second phase will begin from March 10 and will cover seven other districts.
Elaborating on the medicines to be provided, Mishra said, “Under this programme, two types of tablets-DEC and Albendazole will be administered to the entire population starting from children aged two years.”
In the first phase, around 55,000 health workers will be engaged to reach out to a total of 1,40,000 people. For the first time, the health workers will visit educational institutions and offices to administer the tablets. The beneficiaries will take the medicines in the presence of the health workers.
However, people who are very weak, pregnant women and children below two years have been excluded from the ambit of the drive. Urging all to take the tablets, the Health Department has assured that the medicines do not have any side effects.