State to roll out special drive against filariasis from Feb 10

Ranchi: The state health department on Thursday rolled out awareness chariots for 14 districts as part of large-scale public outreach initiative to eliminate filariasis. State health minister Irfan Ansari flagged them off to strengthen information dissemination and community mobilisation under the filariasis elimination campaign.

A special campaign will run from next week. On Feb 10, medicines will be administered at booth level, and from Feb 11 to Feb 26, door-to-door visits will be undertaken by health workers to provide the same, officials said.


The campaign will be held in Ranchi, Gumla, Giridih, Bokaro, Sahibganj, Pakur, Deoghar, East Singhbhum, Koderma, Ramgarh, Simdega, Dhanbad, and Lohardaga districts.

Ansari said, “The state govt has set a target to make the state filariasis-free by 2029. This goal can be achieved only with the active participation of the people. I appeal to every citizen to consume anti-filarial medicine without fear or hesitation when health workers visit their homes or booths."

According to experts, the medicine is completely safe and essential for protection against this debilitating disease. At present, the state has 57,512 elephantiasis cases and 45,441 hydrocele cases, while surgeries were conducted on more than 40,000 patients. The current campaign targets a population of 1,75, 478 people across 14,496 villages.

Additional chief secretary of the health department, Ajoy Kumar Singh said, “Filariasis is a completely preventable disease and can be eradicated through timely and 100% drug consumption. We appeal to the public to cooperate with health workers and ensure full participation to make the state filariasis-free."

State director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Shashi Prakash Jha said, "Filariasis is a serious disease that can cause permanent disability if neglected. Prevention through mandatory consumption of anti-filarial medicines is the most effective measure, except for children below two years of age, pregnant women, and seriously ill persons."