The Ministry of Health’s National Lymphatic Filariasis programme will soon start in Region Two even as it reported it has found a reduction of worm infestation in areas where mass treatment had been conducted.

The first phase of the programme was conducted in Region Five on October 31 and saw more than 9,500 homes and about 40,000 citizens targeted, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

The second phase targeted about 120,000 people in Region Six in December.

Chief Medical Officer at the ministry Dr Shamdeo Persaud told GINA that in two weeks a team of volunteers will be ready to distribute the worm tablets from house-to-house in all Region Two communities including those in riverain areas. He said the ministry is still conducting comprehensive monitoring by collecting samples from the targeted population. Dr Persaud said too, “We were able to reach about 91 percent of the target…once we can achieve about 80 to 90 percent of the population I think our objective is likely to reduce the chance of transmission.”
According to GINA the ministry’s de-worming programme was introduced with the aim of eliminating this public health problem by 2012.

During the visitation and distribution exercise Albendazole and DEC (Diethylcarbamazine) tablets are administered.

Every citizen, except children under two years of age and pregnant women, is offered treatment.