RMC roped in to expedite anti-filarial drug administration

Ranchi: After failing to meet its target of administering anti-filarial drugs, including Di-ethylcarbamazine and Albendazole, to 27.46 lakh people during its special drive from August 10 to 13 in the district, the state health department has now roped in Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) for the task.
The state head of the Vector-Borne Disease cell, Dr B Marandi, said, “Initially, our plan was to distribute medicines from our camps only between August 10 and 13 and to carry out door-to-door drug administration till August 20. But since we noticed that people living in the urban areas are wary of taking the drugs owing to the virus threat, we decided to continue the camps in collaboration with the RMC to increase our reach. Starting from today, the camps will continue till August 20 and the dates will be extended, if required.”
A letter in this regard was written by the Ranchi civil surgeon, Dr V B Prasad, on August 13 requesting the municipal commissioner, Mukesh Ranjan, for engaging RMC in the drive.
On Monday, the health department distributed Di-ethylcarbamazine and Albendazole in all the 53 ward offices for eradicating lymphatic filariasis. “Our decision to collaborate with RMC seems to have paid off. As of Monday, we covered 44% of the total targeted population which is in complete contrast to what we had achieved from August 10 to 13 when only 20% of the population was given the drugs,” Dr Marandi said.
When asked about the low participation in the first three days of the drive, he said, “There was very less turnout at our camps set up in the urban areas for there are over 1,500 containment zones in Ranchi. Moreover, our teams weren’t allowed to enter the residential buildings.”