nChhattisgarh Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo on Monday virtually launched the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) under the national filaria control programme.
Before launching the drive, which will conclude on November 30, the Minister consumed the filaria preventive medicine, a press release said.
The programme will cover all blocks of Surguja district and Prem Nagar, Ramanuj Nagar and Surajpur blocks of neighboring Surajpur district. All residents of these blocks who are above 2 years will be administered the medicine.
Also, juveniles and youths below 19 years will be given deworming drug albendazole, it said.
“For protection against filaria, everyone should take the prescribed medicine. These drugs are completely safe. Along with coronavirus we are also focusing on other health programmes,” Singh Deo said.
He said this mass drug administration programme has been launched amid the Covid pandemic because the government wants to eradicate filaria by 2021.
On November 23, the medicine will be administered in government hospitals and health centers. On November 24 and 26, Mitanin and Anganwadi workers will begin a door-to-door drive, he said.
In the last leg of the programme (Nov 27 and 30), a mop up round will be held to cover those who were missed, Singh Deo added.
