Bilharzia programme extended

Blessings Chidakwa Mash West Correspondent
THE on-going mass drug administration programme in Mashonaland West province targeting more than 500 000 people to prevent and control bilharzia and worm diseases is likely to be extended by another week due to a huge response, an official has said.

The programme is also a pilot programme for the prevention and control of Lymphatic Filariasis, also known as elephantiasis. Mashonaland West provincial health officer Mr George Kambondo said people, including the once secretive apostolic sects, were responding positively to the programme and it was likely to be extended by another week.

“This is a national programme, but as a province we have been targeting about 588 213 people since we started on Monday and people have been forthcoming,” he said. “We are having massive campaigns to lure people to access the drugs. In Makonde district, we have attracted people even at bus termini. Last time some members of the apostolic sect forced their children to stop attending school when Government rolled out programmes like these ones, but through the intervention of headmasters they have started to appreciate the benefits. The programme is going to be extended by another week to cater for people who are still coming in numbers.”

Mr Kambondo said there were enough drugs compared to last year when people in other areas failed to access them.

“Last time the supply of drugs was insufficient, but this time we have secured enough,” he said. “In Zvimba we had underestimated the numbers, but we have since sorted out the issue.”

Mr Kambondo urged people to eat before being vaccinated as the vaccines had side effects. The mass drug administration is a response to high elephantiasis cases, with the drug being given to all age groups in the country, while drugs for intestinal worms and bilharzia are targeted at children.

Lymphatic Filariasis is the second leading cause of permanent and long term disability in developing countries. It affects over 120 million people in 80 countries and 20 percent of the world’s population is at risk of the infection that can spread to other people through mosquito bites.