DRIVE AGAINST FILARIASIS: EFFECTIVENESS OF MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM 2013, MES MEDICAL COLLEGE, MALLAPPURAM, KERALA.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr Sheela P. Haveri,
MES Medical College,
Perinthalmanna.
E-mail: sheelaish@gmail.com

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE:
Sheela P. Haveri, Sebastein N. M, Sujina, Nishad R. Manhu. “Drive against filariasis: effectiveness of mass drug administration program 2013, MES Medical College, Mallappuram, Kerala”. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 2013; Vol2, Issue 24, June 17; Page: 4459-4463.

ABSTRACT:  INTRODUCTION: Filariasis is a global problem with considerable disability .The most important strategy to eliminate filariasis is by MDA of DEC + Albendazole. So, our institution took an initiative to create awareness as well as administer drug under this program in the campus. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the coverage and compliance of DEC + Albendazole under Mass Drug Administration among staff and students in MES academy of medical sciences. 2. To know the causes for non compliance among the same group.  MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross Sectional Study design from 13th -25th March 2013.Data was collected about compliance and reasons for non compliance after drug administration. RESULTS: Out of 2412 staff in college drug was distributed among 2018 giving coverage rate of 84.9% and compliance 80.3% as later assessed. Highest compliance and coverage was among nursing students and main reason for non compliance was fear of side effects to DEC +Albendazole. CONCLUSION: Involvement of institutions in the MDA program gives better coverage and compliance. Filariasis is not a fatal disease but responsible for considerable morbidity, and in causing disfigurement it is second only to leprosy. Filariasis is a global problem and in India 11 states are endemic for filariasis and one among them is Kerala. The 2001 National Health Policy envisages elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2015 (1).The most important strategy of lymphatic filariasis elimination is Annual Mass drug administration (MDA) of single dose of Diethyl Carbamazine (DEC) + Albendazole for 5 years or more to the eligible population to interrupt transmission of disease. The goal to achieving filariasis elimination from South East Asia by 2020 is by reducing microfilaria rate to less than 1% in all endemic areas. Maldives, Srilanka and Thailand have achieved this by completing 5 rounds of MDA. (2)