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| 1/7/08 - Govt approves mass drug administration to control lymphatic filariasis |
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Two more rounds of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) will be taken to control Lymphatic Filariasis.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Health, Women and Social Welfare, Dr Jiko Luveni.
Dr Jiko said that Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is a mosquito borne disease and is the second leading cause of permanent and long term disability worldwide.
“The disease remains largely prevalent in the Central and Eastern divisions, our rural coastal population and affecting mostly males.”
Dr Jiko said that control activities for filariasis for the past 5 years had been Mass Drugs Administration of the population.
“However, despite the MDA being conducted every year since 2001, the success rate of the MDA is below the recommended coverage level for disease elimination.”
Dr Jiko said that the Government is fully committed to “eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2010, and as such, a revised plan of action has been developed aimed at attaining ‘Elimination’ status by the year 2010, given adequate and appropriate resources.’
She said that under the revised plan, two more rounds of MDA is proposed with support from Government.
She added that these two MDA rounds with at least 80% coverage rate will achieve elimination status.
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No:1023
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