OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: A coordination meeting of district officials on the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme for Filariasis was held in the conference hall of the District Commissioner's Office, Sonitpur, today. Additional District Commissioner (Health) Twahir Alam chaired the meeting, welcomed all stakeholders, and urged proactive participation and cooperation to ensure the programme's success.
Joint Director of Health Services Dr. Rupak Barua informed the attendees about the upcoming campaign scheduled from February 10 to February 19, 2025, for Rangapara Block. He emphasized the importance of strategizing to cover all eligible citizens in the designated block. District Malaria Officer Kakoli Dutta provided a detailed presentation about the campaign, highlighting that after the first round of the MDA already held, the second round will now target Rangapara Block, with special focus on the tea estates along with urban and rural populations.
During the campaign, the anti-filaria drug will be administered to all eligible individuals, except for children below two years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and those who are severely ill. The campaign will feature house-to-house visits by Drug Administration (DA) teams comprising an ASHA worker and an Anganwadi worker. A total of 161 DA teams have been formed to date. Additionally, from February 10 to February 12, 2025, booths will be established at tea estate hospitals, PHCs, and railway hospitals in designated areas for drug administration. A total of 15 booths will operate during this period.
Dr. Kumarendra Nath, Assistant Director (Filariasis) from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Assam, and Dr. Liza Panda, State Consultant (M&E), NVBDCP, Assam, emphasized key aspects to ensure the campaign's success. Dr. Nath stressed administering the drugs in the presence of DA teams to maximize coverage, while Dr. Panda urged stakeholders to address reasons for drug refusal, dispel myths, and reach out to as many eligible individuals as possible.
The meeting was attended by the chairperson of the Rangapara Municipal Board, the block development officer of Rangapara Block, the zonal medical officer of plantations, medical officers from various tea estates, DIPRO, and officials from TMCH, social welfare, education, health, and NHM departments.
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