Ensure you take anti-filaria medicines to make Nagpur filaria-free: Civic chief - Times of India
He expressed his commitment to ending lymphatic filariasis, or filaria, by consuming the drugs himself. In line with the commitment by the state public health department to eliminate filariasis by 2030, MDA rounds were launched in the district on Wednesday.
The NMC chief highlighted the urgent need for community participation in order to make this programme a success. "That is why, for a healthy Nagpur, we must make all health-related programmes as mass movement," he said.
Zilla parishad president Rashmi Barve inaugurated the programme in rural areas of the district. She also consumed anti-filariasis drugs during the launch, to show her support and trust in the programme. All efforts will be made to ensure that 100 percent beneficiaries consume anti-filariasis drugs in the presence of trained health administrators.
Along with this, sensitization sessions will be held in collaboration with the health department for people who do not understand the seriousness of filariasis and refuse to take the medication. The importance of the medication will be explained to them and consumption of drugs will be facilitated.
State health services additional director Dr SD Nimgade said, "In this programme, three medicines will be given to beneficiaries. The prescribed dose of Ivermectin with Albendazole will be administered in a door-to-door campaign by trained health workers, free of cost."
The drug will not be distributed for unsupervised consumption. These medicines should not be administered to children below two years of age, pregnant women or people with serious illnesses. Dr Nimgade said that in this programme, 4,030 drug administrators and 403 supervisors will be tasked with ensuring compliance with anti-filariasis drug consumption.
District health officer Dr Deepak Sailokar underscored the safety of these medications. People suffering from hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, or other common diseases must also take these medicines, he said. "Most people will not have any side-effects on consumption of anti-filariasis drugs. The presence of filarial germs in a person's body may be indicated through symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, itching or nausea. These symptoms are a sign that micro-filaria in the human blood are being eliminated by these drugs," Dr Sailokar added.
District filaria officer Monika Charmode said filariasis is a serious public health problem, which is spread through mosquito bites and is one of the major causes of long-term disability. "It usually occurs in childhood but appears in adulthood. This infection damages the lymphatic system. If not treated in time, it causes abnormal swelling of the body parts. People with filariasis often suffer from manifestations such as hydrocele (inflammation of the scrotum), lymphoedema (swelling in the limbs) and chyluria (milky white urine). The disease can only be prevented with the annual intake of anti-filarial drugs. She also mentioned that the district had carried out all preparatory activities, including training of drug administrators and supervisors. Health workers have been trained about Covid safety protocols as well, to prevent disease transmission while administering anti-filarial drugs," Charmode said.
NMC medical officer Dr Narendra Bahirwar and district filaria officer Dr Jasmeen Mulani jointly said the programme can be successfully implemented by developing strategies for every level of the municipality.
Representatives of other associations and the media were present at the ceremony, along with other health officials of NMC and representatives of the health department.
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