Andhra Pradesh - Guntur   

Mass distribution of anti-filariasis drug today

By Our Staff Reporter

GUNTUR, JUNE 24. To root out filariasis from the State, an `Anti Filariasis Day' is being observed by administering a single dose of drug to cover the entire population of the district on Friday, the District Medical and Health Officer, M. Sonar Babu, said.

The Guntur district administration has readied 99.5 lakh tablets to be administered by the medical and para-medical employees with the cooperation of DWCRA members, Anganwadi workers and non-government organisations through a house-to-house contact programme by registering their names.

Dr. Sonar Babu told reporters here on Thursday that one dose per year for five to six years would root out the disease and the strategy had been changed from targeting a vulnerable group to the entire population. For a population of 45 lakhs in the district, 99.5 lakh tablets would be sufficient on an average of 2.5 tablets per person.

For taking up this activity, three more reserve days have been allocated for mopping up operations to cover people left out on the first day. The drug would not be administered on those below two years of age, pregnant women, and those suffering from chronic diseases, he said. Tablets of 100 mg would be given in the dosage of one tablet for those below five years, two for those between five and 15 and three for those above 15. The tablets must be taken with a full stomach as otherwise nausea could be one of the side-affects, he added.

The mass drug administration programme is being taken up with 18,736 volunteers in the district. Tablets had been supplied to 65 Primary Health Centres and 10 municipalities to take up the programme in their jurisdiction with a vehicle at their disposal.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Crop loan recovery drops in co-op bank
• Mass distribution of anti-filariasis drug today
• Voting on no confidence motion in ZP on July 12
• Two naxals surrender
• Rotary Club to repay 16 farmers' debts

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu