Govt launches week-long drive in five filariasis-prone districts

DHANBAD: The Jharkhand health department will launch on Wednesday a week-long programme in five vulnerable districts as part of its plan to make the state filariasis-free by 2017.

Till last year, Jharkhand’s 17 districts were in the grip of filaria but the latest survey reports of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme say filaria cases are found above 1% on every 10,000 population only in five districts. These districts are Dhanbad, Dumka, Godda, Garwha and Khunti.

“We have made comprehensive roadmap for elimination of this disease in these districts,” said Dr Ramesh Prasad, the state anti-filaria officer.

Health officials said Jamtara, Sahibgunj, Deoghar, Simdega, Lohardagga and Latehar districts are filariasis-free. In the remaining 12 districts, microfilaria rate is .5% in every 10,000 population.

Officials will administer drug to 100% targeted people — from children above two years old to 80-year-olds — said Dr Vijay Nath Khanna, nodal officer of the state filarial programme.

In Dhanbad, civil surgeon Dr Chandrambika Srivastava said the district was all prepared to cover 100% target of 24.18 lakh people. DE-WORMING EVENT

The state targets to cover at least 1.21 crore children between the age of 1 and 19 years under the National De-worming Programme, which also kickstarts from Wednesday.

The officials said the ill effects of not getting dewormed include hampered physical and mental growth among children along with anaemia.

“The drive will be organised in all the schools, aanganwadi centres and health centres across the state,” said deputy director of health services-cum-state immunization officer, Dr Beena Sinha.

She said the deworming medicines will be given in the form of chewable tablets to the children.

Ranchi civil surgeon Dr Shivshankar Harijan said an additional mop-up round of the drive will be conducted in all districts on August 17 to include the children left out during the first round.

Jamshedpur deputy commissioner, SK Jha, said all blocks have been supplied medicines one day before programme on Wednesday as per their requirement.

We have made comprehensive roadmap for elimination of this disease in five vulnerable districts DR RAMESH PRASAD, state anti-filaria officer