New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare S.P. Singh Baghel launched the first phase of the bi-annual nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign for lymphatic filariasis elimination. The campaign aims to check disease transmission by providing free preventive medications to residents in areas affected by the disease. The campaign will cover 92 districts across 11 states and will run for the next two weeks. Chhattisgarh Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal was also present on the occasion.
आज से भारत के 11 राज्यों में सर्वजन दवा सेवन (#MDA) अभियान का वर्चुअल शुभारंभ किया जा रहा है। आइये,अपनी फाइलेरिया रोधी दवा खाकर अभियान को सफल बनायें। #IndiaWillEndLF @NTDFreeIndia pic.twitter.com/RxyzOHFn97
— SP SINGH BAGHEL (@spsinghbaghelpr) February 10, 2024
Speaking on the occasion, S P Singh Baghel reiterated India’s commitment to ending Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, three years before the global target. He said,
India has shown immense resilience against some of the deadliest diseases in the world. Under the able leadership of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji and guidance of Union Health Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, we have seen significant success in the TB elimination program and are now on the verge of eliminating Kala- Azar. These successes must be replicated for Filaria as well.
Also Read: India Committed To Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis By 2027: Union Health Minister
Applauding the health care professionals, especially those working tirelessly to support the fight against the disease, he said,
We expect great success due to the launch of this bi-annual Mass Drug Administration. Last year, the coverage was 82.5%, whereas this year we should make greater efforts and try to achieve more than 95% coverage of the eligible population.
He further urged healthcare professionals to work in a mission mode approach with social mobilization and active community participation to ensure comprehensive sensitization with the help of the concerned departments such as Panchayati Raj, Education, Rural Development, Tribal Affairs, Urban Bodies and medical colleges to make it a “people’s movement.”
Chhatisgarh Health Minister Jaiswal said,
In spite of the tough terrain and transportation issues, my government is working hard to eliminate the Filariasis. IEC activities are also being run to make the affected persons aware.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on X said, “Filaria free India! …Under the leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji, we are committed to building a developed and healthy India. On February 10 #MassDrugAdministration , when health workers come to your house to give you anti-filarial medicine, you must take it and encourage others too #DawaiKhayiKya”.
फाइलेरिया मुक्त भारत!
PM @NarendraModi जी के नेतृत्व में हम विकसित और स्वस्थ भारत के निर्माण हेतु प्रतिबद्ध हैं।
10 फरवरी को #MassDrugAdministration के दौरान जब स्वास्थ्यकर्मी आपके घर फाइलेरिया-रोधी दवा खिलाने आयें तो आप जरुर खायें व दूसरों को भी प्रोत्साहित करें #DawaiKhayiKya pic.twitter.com/1PybxAeuih
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) February 10, 2024
Also Read: Health Ministry Launches Nationwide Campaign To Combat Filariasis By 2027
Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) is a priority disease that is targeted to be eliminated by 2027.
India has recently taken several measures to accelerate progress towards the goal of eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis. Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, launched an advanced five-pronged strategy for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027 on January 13, 2023 and one of the important strategies is the ‘Mission Mode India MDA Campaign’ National Deworming Day (NDD), celebrated twice a year on February 10 and August 10.
The 11 endemic states, including Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Gujarat, will be participating in the campaign.
Currently, there are 345 lymphatic filariasis endemic districts in 20 states and union territories of the country. 75% of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) districts are from 5 states; Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Odisha and Telangana. Despite more than 15-20 rounds of MDA, only 138 districts have closed MDA.
Senior officials of the Union Health Ministry, implementing States and representatives from the implementing agencies were also present on the occasion.
(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.
