Mass Drug Administration Programme Against Filariasis to Begin on February 10

Bhubaneswar: The Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme for the prevention of filariasis will commence across select districts of Odisha from February 10, with around 7.40 lakh people set to receive anti-filariasis medication.

As per the schedule, the National Deworming Day (NDD) programme will be conducted alongside the MDA drive from February 10 to 19 in Balangir, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Ganjam districts. The programme will be implemented across seven identified Implementation Units (IUs), including blocks and urban areas, in these five districts.

Under the MDA initiative, three medicines — Diethylcarbamazine (DEC), Albendazole and Ivermectin tablets — will be administered. Children below two years of age, pregnant women and seriously ill persons have been advised not to consume the medication.

To ensure effective coverage, around 2,200 drug administrators have been deployed for door-to-door distribution of the medicines. In addition, 210 observers have been assigned to supervise the process and monitor compliance, officials said during a press conference organised by the Health Department.

Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts, officials said active cooperation and inter-departmental coordination are essential to ensure that the medicines reach every eligible individual. The programme will follow a door-to-door approach to maximise coverage and adherence.

The press conference was chaired by Special Secretary Jitendra Mohan Bebarta and attended by Director of Health Services Dr Pradeep Kumar Guru, Director of Public Health Dr Nilakantha Mishra, Additional Director of State Health and Family Welfare Institute Dr Kiran Kumar Ratha, Director of Family Welfare Dr Shakti Prakash Mishra, Senior Regional Director Dr Nilam Somalkar, Additional Director Dr Prabhakar Sahu, along with other departmental officers and media representatives.

Officials also informed that various departments of the State Government, including Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, School and Mass Education, Higher Education, Mission Shakti, Women and Child Development, Industries, Steel and Mines, Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste Development, and Urban Development, have been requested to extend cooperation for the smooth conduct of the MDA programme.