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Health Ministry conducts exercise to reduce Filaria
With an aim to reduce the incidence and prevalence of Filaria, a highly stigmatized and disfiguring disease, the Vector Control Services (VCS) of the Ministry of Health will be conducting a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) exercise. This will be done in communities along the East Coast and East Bank.
The Culex Mosquito
The MDA started on Monday and will continue until June 29.
The Programme is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and is being executed by the Guyana Water Inc. and Ministry of Health with support from the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
According to the Vector Control Services, some recognizable conditions of Filariasis or Filaria are Lymphedema (commonly called big foot) and hydrocele also called ‘goadie’ in Guyanese vernacular. The parasite is transmitted on Guyana’s coastal plains by the Culex mosquito.
The MDA will see Vector Control Services, local Health Centres and community health activists coming together to inform, educate and administer to households two tablets; Albendazole and Diethylcarbamazine or DEC.
The Vector Control Services explained that transmission occurs when an infected person is bitten by the Culex mosquito which in turn bites and transmits the parasite to a non-infected person. This usually occurs between the hours of 7 pm to midnight.
In the body’s system, the adult parasites multiply, and, after many years this can cause obstruction around the lymph nodes with fluids settling in the extremities of the body (feet, hands and scrotum) where swelling can occur. Prior symptoms that usually indicate infection of Filariasis, include inflamed glands accompanied by fever and pain.
However, to be absolutely sure whether one has been infected, The VCS advises that visits be made to its clinic located at the Malaria Clinic of the Georgetown Public Hospital for three consecutive evenings (between 7 pm – 10 pm).
However, since it would be a huge burden to determine the whole population status, a most effective strategy would be to conduct a preventative campaign. Hence, the campaign is called Mass Drug Administration or MDA.
To effectively reduce and interrupt parasitic transmission, MDAs will be conducted in the targeted communities for five consecutive years. There is another component to this strategy, which is, to apply an integrated vector control programme.
However, for more information residents are encouraged to contact their nearest health centre(s) or the Vector Control Services on telephone numbers; 225-8973 or 227-4752.
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