LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS SHOULD BE INTEGRATED WITH OTHER DISEASE CONTROL
PROGRAMME: DR. THAKUR
SECOND MEETING OF GLOBAL ALLIANCE
FOR THE ELIMINATION OF LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS OPENS
Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr.
C. P. Thakur has said that Lymphatic Filariasis should be integrated
with other disease control programmes as planned by WHO to arrive
at the strategy to eliminate the disease. This can be possible
through intrasectoral and intersectoral coordination including
the active participation of non-governmental organization, multi-lateral
and bilateral donor agencies as well as individual companies/persons.
Availability of potent tools, development of sound strategic plan
and effective implementation at the ground level are the three
prerequisites to eliminate the target disease. The Minister was
speaking at the Second Meeting of the Global Alliance for the
Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, here today.
Dr. C. P. Thakur told the gathering that Lymphatic
Filariasis, otherwise known as elephantiasis, has been a major
public health problem in India. According to available data, the
disease is widespread with evidence of active infection detected
in about a third of the total districts in India. Filariasis is
a major problem in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and many districts in
the central and southern parts of the country. In India, there
is an urgent need to carry out fresh surveys and map areas to
quantify the magnitude of the problem in a more scientific and
realistic terms.
Deliberating on the efforts made by the India,
the Minister said in 1996, one district in Tamil Nadu was taken
up for mass administration with a single dose of Diethylcarbamazine
(DEC). This was later extended to 12 more districts in seven States
by 1998. The impact of the strategy has yet to be evaluated. Based
on some experience in some endemic countries, WHO recommended
the use of co-administration of DEC+Albendazole for elimination
of lymphatic filariasis. Hence, 11 other districts were added
since 2000 for mass administration of DEC in combination with
Albendazole. About 41 million population is being covered under
DEC alone and 26 million under DEC+Albendazole.
The Minister of State for Health & Family
Welfare, Shri A. Raja said that this disease is of enormous magnitude
in India next only to malaria as a public health problem. The
principal cause for the spread of disease is rapid and unplanned
growth of towns and cities without proper disposal of sullage
and sewage water. The magnitude of filariasis in many parts of
rural India is no less a problem as compared to urban areas due
to simulating mosquitogenic conditions accumulating in the polluted
water bodies where the ubiquitous filarial vector breeds profusely
round the year. The conventional method of detection of microfilaria
carriers encompasses night blood surveys at odd hours extending
to midnight is inconvenient both to workers and the community
as a whole. Hence, simple technique of day time detection has
to be made available as a cost-effective alternative tool to replace
the conventional night blood surveys.
In a video message, the DG, WHO stated that improving
the health of those at risk for lymphatic filariasis is not just
a matter of reducing disability. It is about providing opportunity
for the people to live a full an economically active life as individuals
and as part of families. There are more than 20 countries which
have demonstrated that this disease elimination programme can
achieve concrete outcomes in a short space of time. Through these
successes there is a solid base an evidence for elimination, the
message stated.
Dr. Uton Muchtar Rafei, Regional Director, WHO,
South East Asia Region, Secretary, Health, Shri S. K. Naik and
DG, Health Services, Dr. Aggarwal also spoke on the occasion.
