Anti-filaria campaign resumes
The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday, kick started a delayed Mass Drug Administration (MDA) across Guyana to eradicate Lymphatic Filariasis.
Lymphatic Filariasis, also known as Elephantiasis, is a parasitic infection caused by worms transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Mass distribution of the Ivermectin drug is expected to start on Monday in regions Three and Four. In 2018 and 2019, Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and Albendazole tablets were distributed throughout Guyana. The third drug, Ivermectin, was supposed to be distributed in 2020 but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not.
During his feature address yesterday at the launch of the National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Campaign, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony stated that if everyone takes the pill, by May the disease would be eliminated from Guyana. He disclosed that in the Americas region, Guyana is one of four countries yet to eliminate filaria.
The Minister recalled that there were a lot of initiatives in the early 2000’s to reduce the number of people becoming infected and although those initiatives reduced the burden, the ministry felt that this was not enough so the continued looking for ways to eliminate the disease completely.
With the help of the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), he said they devised what is now known as the triple drug therapy, which is due to now be concluded.
Anthony stated that he believes that this final treatment will be successful and there will be one less disease in Guyana. He said that distribution will take two weeks per region, while revealing that 1,400 persons have been trained to administer the drug.
“They are now going to put their training to use and so as of Monday you will start seeing the purple army coming into your community to make sure that you take tablets so that filaria can be eliminated,” he said.
The teams are expected to distribute pills in all regions with the exception of regions Eight and Nine.
Anthony stated, however, eliminating the disease from the country is only part of the ministry’s goal, while noting there are still a lot of persons infected with the disease. He stated that for these persons the ministry wants to ensure that that they get the assistance they need to manage the disease, which could result in them developing a disability. “That’s the second part that we are working on,” he said.
Anthony stated that persons infected with the disease not only suffer physically but mentally as well as some other persons tend to make fun of their condition.
Concluding his speech, Anthony expressed gratitude to the PAHO/WHO, USAID, and other international organisations that have worked alongside Guyana in combating the disease.
Anthony, Chief Medical Officer Dr Narine Singh and other senior medical officials all took their pills at the launch yesterday.