IT is mid-October and by now many of us are aware that it is that time of the year again when we would be required to take the pills brought to our homes, schools, and workplaces, to safeguard ourselves from Lymphatic Filariasis.

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), commonly known as filaria, is a disease that affects the body’s lymphatic system. This system functions to remove unwanted fluids from the body and transports ‘lymph’– a fluid that contains white blood cells that help the body to fight infections. For countries in the Americas such as Guyana, the disease is transmitted by the culex mosquito.

If bitten by a mosquito carrying the infection, the worms are transmitted into the body and they stay there for years before a chronic condition develops. This chronic condition include the external manifestations of lymphoedema (tissue swelling), elephantiasis (skin/tissue thickening) of the limbs and hydrocele (scrotal swelling).

A point to note, however, is that once that chronic condition manifests itself, the effects of the disease are irreversible. And, there is no cure for Lymphatic Filariasis.

So here’s where taking those pills brought to you shows its relevance. The distribution of those pills is part of what is known as a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign. This campaign is one that is organised in an attempt to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, by ensuring that every person in the population who is at risk of being bitten and infected is given tablets to ‘disinfect’ themselves.

Since filaria has no cure, and since those external manifestations of the swollen leg or the swollen scrotum are irreversible, the only way of tackling the disease is by preventing it. And the prevention is fostered through the use of Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablet, which targets the adult worms that cause Filaria and Albendazole (ALB), which targets your intestinal parasites.

Years, ago, Guyana had failed in a previous mandatory World Health Organisation (WHO) MDA campaign, targeting filaria, since the country was unable to meet the 65 percent coverage. When a country fails to meet that mark during any one of the five successive rounds, the campaign fails. In 2017, when the campaign was restarted so that the neglected tropical disease could be eliminated as a public health problem from Guyana, the country recorded a massive 86 percent coverage in the four regions targeted during the first round. In the 2018 round of the MDA, an overall 85 percent coverage was recorded.

This year, logically, the country is looking to build on its successes and use the lessons learnt during the past two years to improve execution of the MDA. What this means is that every aspect of the MDA–from the actual pill distribution to the social mobilisation and the public relations efforts–will be intensified. The country has already recorded two successful rounds, and failing to secure more than 65 percent coverage would be detrimental to the MDA, and the health of at-risk citizens.

But this year as well, the country will be introducing another drug to the regimen. This drug is Ivermectin, which is known to kill and sterilise the adult worms that cause Lymphatic Filariasis. Since the drug has this ability, the number of years needed for the MDA to be successful is reduced from five (the five successive rounds) to only two. Not only is this a cost-effective strategy for the public health ministry, but I mean, that equates to fewer years we would have to take those tablets. It is a win-win-win situation, so why not take your pills to prevent filaria?

I’ll admit that it is due to personal reasons that I am such a fervent supporter of the MDA. A close relative of mine has been affected with Lymphatic Filariasis for a number of years now and I have seen how his swollen leg is a hindrance to him as he goes about his daily life; and I have seen him at times when he was frustrated and irritated because he left as if his leg was not his own.

Last week, while members of the media were being apprised on this year’s MDA, a patient diagnosed with lymphatic filariasis provided a testimonial to illustrate the stark reality of living with the irreversible disease. The man shared that sometimes the itching gets so unbearable, that he would take a knife and dig into his skin. Gruesome, yes, but that’s just a bit of insight into what it is like living with filaria.

I have personally been hesitant to consume these pills, especially now with the introduction of yet another one (I just don’t like taking tablets). But when those feelings of reservation take shape, however, I remember my relative and all those persons who are living with filaria and only have the option of learning how to treat the disease and make living with it a normal part of their lives. I’ve seen how hard it is to do both of these things.

So, my gentle plea is, when you do see the pill distributors, take a few minutes out of your schedule and take the pills. Prevention is not better than cure; prevention is the only option.