– distribution ongoing in eight regions

AS Guyana aims to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF)–commonly called filaria–as a public health issue this year, some 363,932 persons across Regions Three, Four, Six and 10 have already taken their pills.

On Monday, during his daily health update with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony related that the Mass Drug Administration campaign (MDA) to eliminate filaria got underway in Regions One, Two, Five and Seven on the same day. The commencement of the MDA in these four regions adds to the MDA that has already commenced in Regions Three, Four, Six and 10. And, in these four regions so far, the 360,000 plus persons took their tablets.

“As of [Sunday], we have 363,932 persons who took the tablets, so that’s really good and with the four new regions coming on board, we expect to take that number quite high,” Dr. Anthony highlighted.

As per this MDA, persons are required to take varying amounts of three tablets: the Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC), Albendazole (ALB) and Ivermectin (IVM) – to sterilise and kill the worms that cause filaria. The number of pills one has to consume is calculated on one’s height. Someone taller than 160 centimetres, for example, is required to take nine pills — the maximum number.

For this MDA, the health authorities have trained 1,400 pill distributors. Some 170 field officers, 20 regional coordinators and eight national supervisors, spanning about 130 health facilities across the country. Since the country achieved successful coverage in prior rounds of the MDA, this year’s distribution of the pills should be the last, as long as enough citizens take their pills over the next few weeks.

According to Minister Anthony, at the launch of this year’s MDA, more than 90 per cent of the population is at risk for filaria. Additionally, with the exception of Regions Eight and Nine, all the other regions are endemic for the disease.

Filaria, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), affects the body’s lymphatic system, which functions to remove unwanted fluids from the body and transports ‘lymph’– a fluid which contains white blood cells that help to fight infections. It is caused by bancrofti worms and is transmitted by culex mosquitoes. Importantly, if someone is infected with filaria, they may develop chronic conditions, resulting in swelling of the legs and scrotum. Locally, the swelling of tissues in the leg is called ‘big foot,’ while scrotal swelling is termed ‘goadie.’ There is no cure for filaria, which means that these chronic manifestations are irreversible.

In addition to these chronic conditions, persons may be unable to work and provide for themselves, thereby resulting in adverse economic implications. There is also stigmatisation of those infected.