Campaign against Filariasis disease from February 10
   Date :02-Feb-2023

Campaign against Filariasis  
 
 
 
By Bhavana ‘Aparajita’
Shukla
Under the Government of India’s Filaria Eradication Programme, the State Government is going to launch Mass Drug Administration and Communication Campaign from February 10. In view of the presence of tropical diseases cases in the northern region of the State, the Health Department will intensify awareness and drug administration tasks in 11 districts of the State. Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Prabhuram Choudhary emphasises public participation as well as public representatives involvement in this programme to get desired output. He said that Government is constantly striving to achieve important health and development goals. The programme will be carried out in Katni, Umaria, Tikamgarh, Niwani, Datia, Panna, Rewa and Chhatarpur, from 10 February to 22 February. Help of newly-elected panchayat members and public representatives should be taken.”
Inaugurating the campaign, he said that if the project is being lined with other Government’s programmes like upcoming Vikas Yatra then it will draw more attention among commoners and will cover a wider area. “Public participation and public representatives can play a significant role in dissemination of information, he said.” The disease spreads from person to person by mosquito bites. Commissioner, Health, Dr Sudam Khade pressed the need to work in co-ordination with local administration to make the campaign more effective. He said, “with better co-ordination, awareness can be spread among larger sections of society. As of now, around 415 cases of Filariasis are found in the state. Recently a meeting was held with higher officials to include a filariasis eradication programme with Special Task Force projects. Like fighting against Polio, we need to be more aggressive to eliminate this disease. As this disease covers a larger section irrespective of age and gender, we need to target a major chunk of society.”
Along with this, during the Vikas Yatra beginning from February 5 to 25 in the state, publicity material related to filariasis should be displayed and narrated to the people through mobile chariots running during the Yatra so that people get aware about this disease. Call centres and control rooms should be set up to deal with any unavoidable situation during the programme, he added
Highlighting innovative ways in dealing with the disease this time, Mission Director Priyanka Das has said “it was noticed in the past that people don’t consume their dose of medicine properly. Health workers and ground staff used to contact households and ensure availability of medicine to them despite this many times people become careless due to ignorance and miss their doses. This time it will be ensured that they will follow their dose.” With the help of multimedia, slogans and posters an awareness drive will be carried out in 8 districts. On this occasion, a short video featuring actor Manoj Vajpayee, highlighting symptoms and prevention from this disease, was launched by the minister.