Drive against filaria
2 min readPatna: Mass Drug Administration (MDA) against lymphatic filariasis or filaria will begin across 21 districts in the state starting June 18.
The districts are Araria, Banka, Buxar, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, East Champaran, Gaya, Gopalganj, Jamui, Khagaria, Kaimur, Madhubani, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Saran, Sitamarhi, Siwan, West Champaran, Saharsa, and Supaul.
Filaria is also called elephantiasis or haanthipaon in Hindi. It is a neglected tropical disease wherein filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system.
Commenting on the MDA round against filaria, executive director, State Health Society, Lokesh Kumar Singh, said: “The level of drug administration needs to be scaled up for the eradication of filaria from the state which has the bulk of the national burden. We require a rigorous monitoring process in place and can also explore the possibility of leveraging the Jeevika platform for the purpose.”
All persons above two years of age will be given the drug under the MDA programme. “Children less than two years of age, pregnant women and seriously ill people are exempted,” he added.
Additional director-cum-state programme officer, filarial, Bipin Kumar Sinha said the remaining 13 districts will be covered under the next MDA round later this year.
“Jehanabad and Sheikhpura have been covered earlier this year. First transmission assessment survey (TSA) are being conducted in Purnea and Katihar (if they pass three TSA surveys, they will be declared filarial free).
Preparedness for the MDA round was discussed during a conference organised by Project Concern International (PCI) in Patna on Thursday.
Courtesy: The Telegraph
