Rising Fileria cases worries District Administration in Dhenkanal

Surjit Kumar Dhal Dhenkanal, July 28: The rising numbers of  Fileria cases beyond one per cent in several places of the district has upset the district administration  and health authorities and prompted it to spearhead a collective campaign to curb it.

Though the Government sponsored campaign and intervention activities had started in 2004, the rise in cases at several places has become the cause of worry for the district health authorities.

According to reports, at present Mass Drug administration (MDA) is on in five districts like Khurda, Balasore, Cuttack, Nuapada and Dhenkanal as the districts have touched more than one percent.
Presently as many as 1500  patients are affected by Lymphatic  Fileria  in the district .

More than one per cent cases have been detected in Barhasingh in Khajuriakata, Dudhakateni in Beltikiri.

Health officials admitted the fact that many people are taking tablets despite MDA movement.

Further, the tribals are unable to understand  about importance of  MDA as there is language barrier in tribal dominated Kanakdahada and Parjang block villages.

The local ASHA have not been effective in sensitising them and there is no audiovisual communication presentation in those villages under Information Education and Communication (IEC).

Even professionals are presenting IEC programme to school students through lecture method.

The World Health Organization technical staff has been engaged for monitoring and three professionals have been engaged for promotion of awareness from project Concern International  agency.

CDMO Dr Niranjan Mishra said at a coordination meeting  that support of all stake holders from district level to village level is needed to promote awareness and get involved in MDA programme.

“We will launch MDA from August 8 to 10 simultaneously in all GPs.  Our objective is to eradicate fielria as well as to minimize fielria germs in the district,” he said.
Reports  said as many as 2050 administrators apart from supervisors have been engaged to ensure administration of the Filaria drugs in the district. Now blood sample collection is going on in eight places during night hours after 8 pm at Tumusingha, Mathatentulia, Baharsingha, Dudhakaetni, Baharipur, Bhuban NAC and  Mahavir Road in a bid to minimize micro Filaria.
Official sources said 33 cases were registered during 2018 with 16 cases detected only in Khajuriakata.

However, Collector Bhumesh Chandra Behera has directed health authorities to launch a campaign to sensitise the people.