The state government of Maharashtra recently decided to conduct a general campaign for the eradication of elephantiasis. As per reports, the same has been planned for 15 days until July 15 across Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia, Nanded and Yavatmal districts in the state. This campaign was inaugurated by the State Health Minister Rajesh Tope who appealed to the agencies to work on mission mode towards the eradication Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) from Maharashtra.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department Dr. Pradeep Vyas, Commissioner Dr. Ramaswamy, Director Dr. Archana Pawar along with District Collectors of all the six districts, District Health Officers and District Surgeons were also present at the online launch of the campaign.
A workshop for media professionals was conducted online on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, with an aim to share the necessary information about LF. Officials asked the media to play a vital role in creating awareness and passing the information.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that LF transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and is often acquired in childhood. If not treated on time or left untreated, it could lead to several complications in the body, eventually causing swelling in the scrotum and limbs. A new drug combination, IDA, has shown promising results for LF and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) camps can are essential in eradicating the same.
The health department has identified 18 districts in the state which are highly prone for LF cases, and out of these, community medicine campaigns have been successfully implemented across 12 districts namely Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, Latur, Akola, Nandurbar, Solapur, Osmanabad, Amravati, Thane, Palghar, Nagpur and Wardha.
Also Read: No need to fear the Delta Plus variant of COVID-19: Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope
Currently, the department has planned to implement the campaign in the remaining six districts. Activities for the same will continue until July 15, 2021. Sharing more information, Minister Tope said that a target has been set for the MDA for 13 million people, across 8098 villages in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia, Nanded and Yavatmal districts, to take the necessary pills for LF.
Across these six districts, the District Collector have conducted meetings with the coordinating committee and more than 41,000 staff along with over 4,100 supervisors have been appointed for the distribution of tablets.
On the other hand, he has also asked the employees to follow coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines which distributing pills and conducting the campaign.
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