The Ministry of Health launched a mass distribution campaign to tackle Filariasis in Regions Three and Four with the hopes of eliminating and lowering the amount of positive cases in the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease. Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. Infection is usually acquired in childhood and causes hidden damage to the lymphatic system.
Dr. Anastacia Sampson, Coordinator of the lymphatic Filariasis elimination campaign, gave brief remarks on the purpose of the campaign while sharing some statistics based on the previous campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Health.
“Six months after our last MDA in 2021, Guyana would have shifted to its post-MDA surveillance phase. The first activity was an epidemiological monitoring survey targeting 26 filaria hotspots in 13 evaluation units,” she stated.
Adding further, she highlighted that three out of the 26 hotspots were above the recommended threshold.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said resources would also be made more readily available to tackle other current and important issues.
Dr. Frank Anthony thanked all officials and those who trained to be a part of the filaria campaign while urging the public to participate to not only safeguard themselves but their younger ones from filaria.
Also present at the commencement of the IDA drug distribution were Dr. Reza Niles-Robin – Director of the Vector Control Services, Ministry of Health, Dr. Gavinash Persaud – Regional Health Officer Region 4, Dr. Erica Forte – Regional Health Officer Region 3, Mr. Daniel Albrecht – PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Travis Ellis – councilor from the community of Albouystown and other trained pill distributors and health officials.
