Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government, as part of its mission to eradicate filariasis from the state, has initiated a door-to-door administration of anti-filarial medications across several districts. The campaign, Mass Drug Administration (MDA), which was launched on February 10, will run until February 28. The Yogi government has set a target to eradicate filariasis from the state by 2026, aligning with the central government’s goal to achieve nationwide elimination by 2027. Globally, the target for eliminating this disease has been set for 2030.
According to a press statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office, in line with the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this initiative aims to reach every household in the state in the battle against the debilitating disease.
The official further said that about 20 per cent of people have consumed the medicine under the campaign since it was launched. It said,
As a result of effective monitoring by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, within the first four days of the door-to-door campaign itself, about 20 per cent of people have consumed the medicine. This campaign will run until February 28.
Notably, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged the healthcare teams not only to distribute the medication, but also to educate the populace, emphasising the importance of awareness in achieving the campaign’s goals.
In various districts across the state, along with receiving anti-filarial medication, people are actively seeking to enhance their understanding of this disease. Communities in areas such as Amethi, Azamgarh, Ballia, and Barabanki have displayed keen interest in learning about the potential side effects of the medication. They inquire about issues such as headaches, dizziness, and the medication’s efficacy on an empty stomach.
Also Read: India Committed To Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis By 2027: Union Health Minister
As per the state government, the health teams are assuring the populace that the anti-filarial medication is entirely safe, despite occasional symptoms like headache, body pain, fever, vomiting, rashes, and itching, which typically subside on their own. They emphasise the importance of consuming the medication after a meal to maximise its effectiveness and minimise any discomfort.
In other areas like Lucknow, Unnao, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly, and Hamirpur, initial hesitancy towards taking the medication has been observed among some individuals. However, after receiving information from the health teams, many have willingly come forward to receive the treatment.
In the villages, health teams are actively engaging with residents, providing information about the medication, and facilitating its administration. Additionally, members of the Filaria Patient Network are playing a crucial role in raising awareness about the importance of taking anti-filarial medication, further contributing to the success of the campaign.
Dr Ramesh Singh Thakur, the State Program Officer for Filariasis, informed that the MDA campaign aims to administer medication to a total of 3,60,25,891 individuals. He said,
Impressively, within just four days, approximately 66 lakh 14 thousand 589 people, constituting around 20 per cent of the target population, have already received the anti-filarial medicine.
Filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a chronic and incurable disease that severely impacts the lymphatic system. This intricate network of vessels, organs, and specialised cells is profoundly impacted by filariasis infection, with symptoms often manifesting 10-15 years after contraction. Concealing symptoms can exacerbate the condition, making it imperative to seek timely assistance from Ayushman Arogya Mandir or government health centers to access the array of benefits extended by the Yogi government’s progressive schemes.
Currently, there are 51 districts in the state grappling with filariasis. The ongoing campaign is operational in 17 of these districts.
Also Read: Health Ministry Launches Nationwide Campaign To Combat Filariasis By 2027
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
