Jharkhand health minister Banna Gupta on Monday launched a mass drug administration (MDA) programme against filariasis for over 1.78 crore residents in at least 12 of 24 affected districts and urged beneficiaries to come forward and take the medication to eradicate the vector-borne disease, which mostly affects people in rural areas of the state.

“Our state government is constantly striving to achieve important health and development goals. The government is also very sensitive to other health concerns even during this pandemic and is running continuous programmes to address them,” Gupta said.

The four-day campaign, scheduled to conclude on August 27, was launched in Giridih, Chatra, Dumka, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Garhwa, Godda, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Lohardaga, Ranchi and Simdega, a document released by the health department stated.

Filariasis is caused by filarial worms and can trigger abnormal growth in the infected person. The abnormal swelling in legs caused by Filariasis is commonly referred to as elephantiasis, said doctors.

The health minister iterated that the anti-filarial drug were absolutely safe if taken under the supervision of trained personnel and doctors.

During the drive, at least two drugs – DEC and Albendazole – will be administered to beneficiaries in 11 districts of the state and three drugs – DEC, Albendazole and Ivermectin – will be administered to beneficiaries in Simdega.

National Health Mission director Umashankar Singh said that filariasis is a complex problem of public health and the Health Department is determined for its successful eradication.

“The success of the programme is possible only when there is public participation in it,” said Singh, adding that except children younger than one year and pregnant women, everyone can take these medications.

A total of 71,234 personnel and 7,123 supervisors have been deployed in 12 districts to monitor the programme and to ensure that 1.78 crore targeted beneficiaries of the combined population of about 2.2 crore of the chosen districts are administered anti-filaria drugs. Rapid response teams have been formed in all the districts to deal with it.

The campaign, officials said, will be run under strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior. Booths will be sanitised and all drug administrators will wear protective gear.

In a similar campaign run from February 22 to February 27, the state health department had administered anti-filarial drugs to over 70 lakh beneficiaries in four districts – Sahenganj, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Ramgarh.