Mail News Service
Jamshedpur:The District Civil Surgeon today chaired a meeting at the district conference hall in connection with the launch of the National Vector Prevention Program. The meeting of the coordination committee decided that an immunization drive for the vector induced filarial disease will be launched in the district between April 10 and 15. The coordination committee has been tasked with the successful implementation of the drive.
The Civil Surgeon informed the participants in the meeting that all polio booths in the district will be provisioned with DEC and Albendazole. Barring children below two years of age, pregnant women and people suffering with serious diseases, a dose each for others will be provided from these booths.
In addition, DEC and Albendazole doses will also be available in schools, Anganwadi centres, community health centres, primary and sub health centres, Panchayat bhawans and weekly markets in rural areas where special booths will be put in place.
In urban areas the anti filarial doses will be available at all government and private hospitals, urban health community centres, urban primary and sub health centres, schools, community centres, Anganwadi centres, all government offices, railway stations, bus terminus and main post offices. DEC and Albendazole dosages are not to be taken on empty stomach.
The vector induced filarial disease is one of the main long term diseases which does not cause death but make patients weak. There are 122 crore people in 82 countries suffering from this disease. Out of these 70 percent sufferers from filarial disease are in India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Bangladesh.
The move to eradicate filarial disease from India was launched in 2004. Between 2004 and 2007 DEC and Albendazole doses were provided in 250 districts. The Indian government has set a target for eradicating this disease by 2020.
In Jharkhand 17 districts have people suffering from filial disease prime among them being Bokaro, Chatra, Devghar, Dhanbad, Dumka, Garhwa, Giridih, Godda, Gumla, Hazaribag, Lohardaga, Ranchi, Sahebganj, Khunti, Ramgarh, West and East Singhbhum.
In order to make East Singhbhum district free of filarial disease a drive will be launched in the district between forthcoming April 10 and 15.
Among those present at today�s meeting were Dr Sahir Paul, Dr AK Lal and other officials.