IPHO targets 85% filariases elimination
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office yesterday launched its third-year mass drug administration (MDA) on lymphatic filariasis, targeting to reach the elimination level of 85 percent of the 1.8 million population in the province.
Filariasis is caused by microscope thread-like worms that live in the human lymph system. It could be transmitted through mosquito bites. Abnormalities or disfiguring in other parts of the body would take five to15 years.
On the first year of MDA implementation in 2008, the province has reached only 65 percent of the target number. Last year, it increased by only one percent.
The MDA will be done yearly for the next five years.
Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, provincial health officer, said the low increase result was attributed to the fear of some people about the supposed side-effects of taking the two-drug combination of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole.
“There is no side-effect as long as they are following the guidelines,” she said.
Trabado said those who should not take the medicines are pregnant women, children below two years, seriously ill, and patients with seriously kidney and cardiac disorder.
“Individuals with asthma and seizure disorders and severe malnutrition should be given the medicine with caution,” she said.
Trabado said the IPHO is hoping to reach the criteria this year through the help of tri-media and other government agencies.
She said that if they fail to reach the 85 percent target, they will extend the vaccination for another two years.
The first filariasis case in Iloilo was reported in Brgy. Cabatangan, Lambunao in 2007.
After the two-year implementation of MDA, the IPHO together with the Department of Health 6 conducted a random Immuno Chromatographic Test of several residents of the barangay and found out that 160 persons were positive of microfilariasis.
The same test conducted in Concepcion town yielded 40 positive cases.
Trabado said that other reported cases were from towns of Oton and Janiuay.*
