Maharashtra: Mass drug administration against filariasis from July 1

AURANGABAD: Maharashtra is set to become the second state after Chhattisgarh to resume mass drugs administration (MDA) programmes that had come to a halt during the pandemic. Six districts, namely Nanded in Marathwada along with Yavatmal, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gondia and Gadchiroli districts in the Vidarbha region will have MDA programmes against filariasis between July 1 and 15, covering more than 1 crore people.
Dr Archana Patil, the state director of health services, on Tuesday, said Maharashtra was committed to ensuring the last-mile delivery of public health services even during the pandemic. “We will adopt all necessary innovations to safely deliver the essential services under the lymphatic filariasis elimination programme. It is essential that all households in the endemic areas receive and consume the anti-filaria drugs in the presence of healthcare workers. This is the only way we can check the transmission of filariasis,” she said at a media sensitization workshop.
Also known as elephantiasis, lymphatic filariasis is considered the second-most disabling disease after mental health according to the WHO. It is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. As per the official data, Maharashtra has 18 lymphatic filariasis endemic districts with close to 31,258 lymphoedema (abnormal swelling in the limbs) and 11,929 hydrocele (abnormal swelling of the scrotum) cases being reported in 2020-21.
Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, the additional director of health services, said a unique ‘bowl method’ would be adopted during the MDA to maintain social distancing. “The method involves the use of separate clean and dry bowls for members of every family to administer the tablets. It will avoid direct contact with the beneficiaries and maintain social distancing,” he said, adding that such a method was followed in Chhattisgarh during MDA.
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope, in a video appeal, said the anti-filaria medicines to be administered during the proposed MDA programme are completely safe and effective. “During MDA, trained health workers will follow Covid-appropriate protocols and conduct house-to-house visits to provide free-of-cost anti-filaria medicines to beneficiaries in all communities in affected areas,” he said.