Filariasis Elimination Drive: Mass Drug Administration in 11 Odisha Dists From Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will conduct a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign in 11 districts from August 10 to 19, aiming to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. The Health and Family Welfare Department recently hosted a media sensitisation workshop in Bhubaneswar to promote awareness about this initiative.

Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra stressed that the MDA campaign is part of India’s commitment to eradicating filariasis by 2030, aligning with the National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme. The MDA will be implemented across 197 Implementation Units (IUs) in Angul, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Sundargarh districts. The campaign will run parallel to the second round of the National De-Worming Programme (NDD).

Under the new strategy, the MDA will involve triple-drug therapy, including DEC, Albendazole, and Ivermectin. However, children under two years, pregnant women, and seriously ill individuals are exempted from taking these medications.

Director of Health Services, Bijaya Kumar Mohapatra, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts and resource mobilisation to ensure the success of the MDA. He noted that the programme aims to achieve at least 90% supervised drug consumption. ASHA workers, Anganwadi Workers, SHGs, and other volunteers have been enlisted as Drug Administrators (DAs) and will visit households to administer the medications directly.