The Ministry of Health is urging churches, NGOs and other stakeholders to collaborate as it continues its elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and other worms programme.
In a press release the ministry said on Thursday and Friday it treated Region Six and it has so far treated 40,000 persons in about 9,500 homes. It aims to treat about 120,000 persons with Albendazole and DEC (Diethylcarbamazine). All except children under two, pregnant and lactating women are expected to take the tablets.
The ministry’s objective is to eliminate filariasis as a public health problem by 2012. “We have signed on to a global obligation of eliminating LF by 2020 but we are confident that we can do so by 2012, thus, we have voluntarily shifted the date forward by 8 years,” the release quoted Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy as saying. This programme is taking direct aim at eliminating filariasis and other worm-infestation particularly in children.
The mass treatment will include having children and other vulnerable persons take one Albendazole and Dec tablets. During the house-to-house visitation and distribution of anti-worming medication, volunteers will seek to assist persons with associated health issues, such as lymphoedema and hydrocele, by referring them to special clinics at the New Amsterdam, Skeldon and Port Mourant hospitals for immediate attention. About 400 volunteers are expected to participate in the programme.
According to the release in 2001, a mapping exercise revealed that there was a prevalence of about 9.3%, ranging from 1 to 37% of LF in various communities. The highest rates were seen in urban and coastal rural areas. However, the ministry said its routine management data has shown between 24.6% to 61.8% reduction since the introduction of DEC Salt, with an almost 88% reduction in hydrocele diagnosis. Globally more than 120 million persons live with LF, 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.
According to the release international partners for this programme include PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, USAID and the US CDC. Local partners include the education, Local Government and Regional Development and Amerindian Affairs ministries, the regional and neighbourhood democratic councils, the Seventh Day Adventist Church (which has a global de-worming programme), various faith-based organisations, such as CIOG, the Guyana Council of Churches, the Dharmic Sabha, the IRO and the Ba’hais.
