Jharkhand

• 24 Aug 2021

Filariasis Eradication Campaign

Why in News

• On August 23, 2021, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta launched the Filaria Eradication Campaign in 12 filarial affected districts of the state. This program will run from August 23 to August 27, 2021 in the filarial affected areas.

Key Points

• This campaign is being run under the National Filariasis Eradication Program of the Health Department of Jharkhand.
• During the campaign two medicines – DEC and Albendazole will be given to the beneficiaries in 11 districts of the state – Giridih, Chatra, Dumka, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Garhwa, Godda, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Lohardaga and Ranchi, while in Simdega three medicines will be given to the beneficiaries. - DEC, albendazole and ivermectin will be given.
• In this campaign, anti-filaria medicines will be given free of cost to the beneficiaries at booths and door to door visits. The distribution of medicines will be done in compliance with the COVID-19 protocol.
• Out of the above 12 districts, about 1 crore, 78 lakh targeted beneficiaries will be given anti-filaria drugs.
• Under this programme, anti-filarial medicine will not be given to children below 1 year of age, pregnant women and critically ill persons and children 1-2 years of age will be given Albendazole only.
• The State Health Department had earlier also conducted Filariasis Eradication Campaign during 22-27 February, 2021 in four districts- Sahibganj, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Ramgarh, in which more than 70 lakh beneficiaries were given anti-filaria drugs.
• Filariasis is a tropical parasitic disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and affects the lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels. Filariasis is one of the leading causes of disability. The abnormal swelling of the feet due to filariasis is commonly called elephantiasis.