MDA – 2004

Mass Drug Administration of single dose of DEC was launched as National Filaria Day (NFD) on 5th June 2004 by Dr. A. Ramadoss, Hon’ble Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare in Thane district in Maharashtra . Smt. P. Lakshmi, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare initiated the MDA in Raibareilly district in Uttar Pradesh. In all, 76 districts in 15 states observed MDA on 5th June 2004. In the subsequent months, MDA was completed in 190 districts during 2004. The remaining 12 districts (1 district of Andhra Pradesh and 11 districts of Kerala) took up MDA during February-March 2005.

During the year 2004, 202 filaria endemic districts with a population of about 468 million were targeted under Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. As per reports received from 202 districts, 276 million persons were administered a dose of DEC against eligible population of 378 million, showing a coverage rate of 73%.

Status of MDA – 2005

During the year 2005, 243 filaria endemic districts with a population of over 500 million were targeted. The MDA campaign was launched on 11 November in Jubilee Hall in Hyderabad by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Hon’ble Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, GoI. The launch ceremony was attended by Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, GoI, Sh. Konijeti Rosaiah, Hon’ble Minister for Finance, Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Sh. T.K. Dewan, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. I.V. Subba Rao, Principal Secretary (HM&FW), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. P.S. Reddy, Director of Health Services, Andhra Pradesh and Dr. P.L. Joshi, Director, NVBDCP, Delhi. The Hon’ble Minister during the launching of NFD appealed to the public to make this effort as social movement so that country could be made free from lymphatic filariasis by 2015, the goal set in the National Health Policy (2002).

On 11 November 2005, 157 districts observed MDA as 4 districts in West Bengal and 14 districts of Tamil Nadu could not observe MDA due to unprecedented rains & flood; 38 districts of Bihar due to elections and 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh due to lack of preparedness. The 4 districts of West Bengal and 38 districts of Bihar however, observed MDA on 22.12.2005 whereas remaining 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh observed MDA on 08.01.2006. Thus 229 districts observed MDA-2005 and Tamil Nadu did not observe MDA-2005 in 14 districts.

During the year 2005 the coverage of 71% was achived against the eligible population of 455 million.

MDA - 2006

National Filaria Day was observed on 22nd December, 2006 for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis. Annual single dose of DEC tablets will be administered to all the population living in filaria endemic areas except children below 2 years, pregnant women and seriously ill persons. The mop up round for Mass Drug Administration(MDA) will be carried out on 23rd and 24th December, 2006. During this year only 15 States/UTs could observed MDA with 61% coverage against eligible population of 369 million. The states namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Chattisgarh and Pondicherry could not observed MDA.

MDA - 2007

National Filaria Day was observed on 15th November and all the 250 Filaria endemic districts have been covered under MDA with a coverage of 82% against eligible population of 518 million.

Upscaling Mass Drug Administration