By: Indrawattie Natram
AS the Ministry of Health prepares to roll out its filaria campaign, scores of pill distributors in Region Two are receiving intense training.
The training which is being done in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/ World Health Organisation (WHO) will target volunteers from various communities and will equip them with knowledge about the triple drugs therapy that will be used during the Mass Drugs Administration Campaign (MDA).
According to Dr. Marlon Sooknaraine, the MDA will be officially launched in Region Two on March 5 after which the distribution of the pills will commence.
Dr. Sooknarine is the national supervisor for the Lymphatic Filariasis MDA campaigns for Regions One and Two,
He said that training commenced in Region Two on January 18 and is slated to end on February 4. The training sessions will be held at 15 health centres across the region including in the Pomeroon River area.
Dr. Sooknarine said the training is being done with the aim of presenting a lymphatic filariasis elimination strategy (national and regional) and to reinforce the importance of accurate and daily reporting through the use of registries.
He said it also emphasises the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the MDA adverse event reporting as well as it discusses social mobilization and its importance for regional performance.
According to Dr. Sooknaraine, it may take up to 20 years for filaria symptoms to show. He said that during that period, a person can transmit the worms to his/her family or household members without knowing.
“The Mass Drug Administration activity is targeting the entire population to prevent filaria. The pills will also kill intestinal worms. The additional pill (Ivermectin) is effective against scabies and lice,” he informed.
Included in the training, is the in-depth explanation of key terms. These include lymphatic filariasis, parasitic lifecycle (transmission), clinical manifestations, management (IDA dosing), exclusion and inclusion criteria, and adverse events. Participants will also be involved in role-playing.
Two Regional Coordinators, Darcia Bissoon and Shaleena Baksh will work alongside Regional Health Officer, Dr. Ranjeev Singh, to ensure everyone living in the Pomeroon- Supenaam region takes the filaria pills.
During a campaign, triple-drug therapy will be administered. The drugs are Ivermectin, DEC, and Albendazole and they will be distributed in keeping with a height-based dosage.
Only pregnant women, the seriously ill and children under 2 years will not be given the Ivermectin tablets.
