Odisha to Launch 2nd Phase Mass Drug Administration for Filaria Elimination from August 10

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to roll out the second phase of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign from August 10 to eliminate filaria, a parasitic disease that threatens millions. The 10-day campaign, which will run till August 19, aims to administer anti-filarial drugs to 1.7 crore people across 12 districts.

The MDA drive will be conducted in Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Sundargarh districts. The campaign will be implemented across 115 operational units and conducted in tandem with the second round of the National Deworming Programme (NDD).

As part of the campaign, eligible individuals will be given a combination of three drugs—DEC (Diethylcarbamazine), Albendazole, and Ivermectin. However, children below two years, pregnant women, and severely ill individuals will be excluded from the drug administration process.

To ensure smooth execution, over 41,000 Drug Administrators have been mobilized, supported by 4,100 supervisors. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Anganwadi workers, members of self-help groups, and other trained volunteers will go door-to-door, ensuring that people consume the tablets on the spot. Authorities have set a target to achieve at least 90% coverage through direct observation of drug consumption.

Officials stressed the need for strong inter-departmental coordination to ensure the campaign’s success. Departments including Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, School and Mass Education, Higher Education, Mission Shakti, Women and Child Development, Industries, Steel and Mines, ST & SC Development, Minority Affairs and Backward Class Welfare, and Housing and Urban Development have been called upon to extend their full support.

The details of the campaign were announced during a press conference attended by top health officials, including Dr. Amarendra Nath Mohanty, Director of Health Services; Dr. Neelakantha Mishra, Director of Public Health; Dr. Dilip Kumar Panda, Director of State Institute of Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Rajyashree Pattnaik, Director of Family Welfare; and other senior officials from vector-borne disease control and public health departments.