The Ministry of Health’s ongoing Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign across Guyana to eradicate Lymphatic Filariasis has been extended to East Berbice-Corentyne, Region Six.
The campaign in the region commenced yesterday and will be rolled out over the next two weeks.
Lymphatic Filariasis, also known as Elephantiasis, is a parasitic infection caused by worms transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
During the brief launching ceremony, Dr Jean Alexandre, PAHO’s Advisor, Health Surveillance Disease Prevention and Control, called filaria an infectious disease that causes disability and stigma. To get the disease under control, Alexandre encouraged persons to take the three pill combination and encourage other persons to take theirs as well to keep families safe.
Narindra Persaud, the Regional Executive Officer, also encouraged persons in the region to take the pills and he advised the distributors to be clear and helpful with their explanation. He said that persons are not as confident to take the medication when they do not understand the side effects and the importance of it.
According to Regional Chairman David Armogen, “This disease has very serious implications for discrimination and embarrassment but later on I got to know that this disease was a result of a mosquito that promotes this type of disease but it can be avoided if persons take their filariasis pills.” He added that people are very hesitant to take pills and injections, especially in Guyana, and this is because of misinformation that is being spread. However, he said that persons need to be able to understand that not taking the medication will cause them to be at risk of being infected while taking the medication would eliminate that possibility. He said he would rather have a side effect caused by the medication than to have the disease.
Director of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy also encouraged persons to take the pills and said that because the resources are now available, persons should be more open to taking their pills. He added that diseases such as polio, small pox, diphtheria, and mumps, have been eliminated from the country and so will filariasis.
