Organizing media sensitization workshop related to eradication of filariasis in collaboration with CIFAAR


The campaign is to be run in the district from 12 to 27 May


Kaushambi, 09 May 2022: Media has an important role in making any health related program a success. By reaching useful information through the media, the behavior of the people changes. The important role of media in eradicating the disease like Filariasis which takes the form of life-threatening cannot be denied. It is expected from everyone that through the media, the message of eradication of filariasis should reach the people. Chief Medical Officer Dr KC Rai said the above things. He was addressing a one-day media sensitization workshop on Filariasis Eradication organized in collaboration with Center for Advocacy and Research (CIFAR) on Monday.

The Chief Medical Officer said that from May 12 to May 27, a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign is going to be conducted in which the frontline workers will go door-to-door to administer anti-filaria medicine to the people in front of them. These medicines will be fed to the public free of cost and are to be consumed by all except children below two years of age, pregnant and those suffering from serious diseases. The dosage of the drug named DEC and Albendazole will be given according to the age in the district. The medicine is not to be taken on an empty stomach and it is necessary to take it in front of the health worker. When the parasites die in the body after taking the medicine, sometimes reactions like headache, fever, vomiting, body rash and itching are seen. There is no need to panic with these and they usually get better on their own. If anyone has more problems, ASHA can inform the Block Response Team through the worker.

Additional Chief Medical Officer BBD Dr. DS Yadav highlighted the role of ASHA workers in the MDA campaign and appealed to the public to cooperate with the ASHA workers and their associates whenever they go for medicine. Medicines must be given to all the eligible beneficiary of the house. Each team formed to feed medicine will go to 25 homes and give medicine. Door to door feeding is done through MDA programme. Taking the medicine once in a year prevents the loss of blood along with the release of filariasis. That's why medicine must be taken. Marbidity kits have been given to the patients of elephantiasis in the district. Kit includes bucket, mug, towel, soap and cream. Along with giving the kit, it is being told to the beneficiary that it is very important to maintain the wound or swelling caused by elephant foot.



District Malaria Officer Anupama Mishra told through PPT that the population of the district would be fed medicine during the campaign. For this, 1619 teams have been formed, whose work will be supervised by 275 supervisors. This medicine kills the parasites of filariasis and protects people from diseases like elephantiasis and hydrocele. This medicine also eliminates the dangerous insects of the stomach and also helps in the elimination of itching and lice. One DEAC tablet of 100 grams and one Albendazole tablet of 400 grams are to be given to people above two years of age and below five years of age. People in the age group of five to fifteen years will be given two tablets of 200 g of DEC and one tablet of 400 g of albendazole. Apart from this, people above the age of 15 years will be given three tablets of 300 grams of DEC and one tablet of 400 grams of albendazole.


At the end of the workshop, the CMO gave a pledge to all the journalists present recently to make the Filaria Liberation Campaign a success. Earlier, State Representative of Sifar, Firoz Haider informed about the purpose of the workshop and the work being done by the organization. On this occasion, WHO's Nodal Coordinator Dr. Rahul, PCI Coordinator Balendra Singh, Sifar's representative Prayagraj Divisional Coordinator Preeti Saini, Shravan, Manbhawan Awasthi were present.