‘Filaria cases decreasing in State'

--State aims to eradicate filaria disease by 2015

BHUBANESWAR: “Regular use of DEC tablets can eradicate filarial disease from our State,” said the doctors and officials of sensitisation programme for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (ELF) at a Press briefing on Mass Drug Administration (MDA) organised by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and the State Directorate of Health Services here on Friday.         

“Lymphatic Filariasis, also called as filarial disease, is decreasing in the State and we are in the stage of elimination. We are hopeful to eradicate the disease from the State by 2015 in order to support nation’s aim,” said Deputy Director of NVBDCP Dr Madan Mohan Pradhan.

On April 22, the volunteers and ASHA workers will distribute DEC and Albendazole tablets to the people by going door to door. Everyone can take the medicine, except serious ill persons, pregnant women and below two year children. Only one dose per year for continuous five year through MDA can eradicate the disease, the doctors advised. No major side effect will occur after consuming the tablets, they added.         

According to the district-wise coverage report of MDA, Microfilaria rate was 2.57 in the State whereas, the rate decreased to 0.41 in 2010 and it may come down to 0.3 in the upcoming MDA report of 2011. The Microfilaria rate is constantly decreasing, which is a good sign, said Deputy Director of Public Health PC Sahu.

According to the report of March 2011, MDA had covered 2, 36, 27,615 people which was 91.34% of the target population. The authorities had supplied 64, 90, 00861 DEC tablets out of which 5, 97, 49,663 tablets were used. This year, the population target is 2.62 crore and the supply of tablets is 7.20 crore. To make the programme successful, Rs 2.68 crore is allotted, informed Deputy Director of the programme Pradhan.