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Filariasis prevention gets underway in Region Five
…Only the irresponsible would not cooperate – Health Minister
The much-anticipated campaign by the Ministry of Health to fully eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Guyana has finally commenced in Region Five, where it was noted that approximately 192 homes have already been visited by health workers and volunteers of the Health Ministry on Friday alone.
During a visit to the region yesterday, Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that the ministry is on target to reach out to some 50,000 persons in the region by today.
Minister Ramsammy interacts with some residents on the importance of using the drugs.
He noted that if the need arises, then the ministry will extend the time given, in order to get to each and every citizen.
“I’m pleased with the way things are going. It’s an elaborate operation; it is not only going to each home, but each person has to have a packet of drugs. We are not allowing people to keep the drugs… They have to drink it in front of us… It’s a direct observation therapy intervention,” Minister Ramsammy told reporters yesterday.
Meanwhile, while the majority of citizens fully cooperated with the health workers and volunteers who visited their homes, there was one business entity that refused to accommodate the health professionals, as the proprietor refused to accept the drugs.
When told of this, Minister Ramsammy expressed his disappointment over the incident, as he acknowledged that the campaign is a voluntary one. But he did pointed out that, by refusing the drugs, the persons displayed that they are irresponsible.
“It is irresponsible when citizens refuse to take the pill; and whilst it is a voluntary thing, it is still a responsibility, and when things go wrong at hospitals, people blame us. But health is not the minister’s responsibility alone, and health is not the responsibility of health workers. In fact, the greatest onus for health is with the people themselves,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
A health volunteer explains to a resident how to use the pills.
Minister Ramsammy added that although the ministry cannot force citizens to take the drugs, persons need to realize that their health is at risk.
“I believe that those who don’t cooperate are irresponsible and are contributing to the disease in our country. I can’t force them, I can’t beat them, I can’t go put a gun to their heads to do it… But I can talk about the irresponsibility of citizens when it comes to doing the right things.
“It should be an obligation. In some countries, you would be locked up, because it is not a voluntary thing… You have to do it.”
Over the next week, an evaluation of the campaign will be done, in order to find out what the weaknesses and glitches are, so that they can be corrected when the programme moves to other regions.
Minister Ramsammy explained that once people use the medication, they cannot consume alcohol. Taking this into consideration, he noted, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Health will be focusing on family activities as a means of getting not only families closer, but also residents in the various communities to bond together.
This will come on stream when the Health Ministry takes the programme to the other regions in Guyana.
When questioned why Region Five was chosen as the first region to commence this programme, Minister Ramsammy said that the region has a low prevalence rate of filariasis and that the region is not large.
He explained that the prevalence rate is much higher in urban areas, while there is a low percentage in rural communities.
During the course of the exercise, 300,000 tablets are expected to be distributed, while the Health Ministry is expected to reach out to the entire country by the end of June 2009.
One of the conditions that result from lymphatic filariasis is hydrocele (swelling of genitals); and in the last three years, the Ministry has seen an 88 percent reduction in the diagnosis of new cases of hydrocele.
Globally, more than 120 million persons live with lymphatic filariasis, with more than 40 million suffering from debilitating conditions, such as lymphoedema (swelling of limbs and breasts, swelling of genitals (hydrocele) and swelling of limbs, with thick, rough and fissured skin (elephantiasis). Almost 20,000 Guyanese live with these conditions.
(Fareeza Haniff)
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