Safeguarding future of India! Health Minister signs ‘Call to Action to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2021’

New Delhi, October 30: Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the day long National Symposium on the theme ‘United to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis’ today. The Minister also signed the ‘Call to Action to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2021'. 

 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan Said, “I would like to draw your attention to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which are a group of debilitating infectious diseases that impact over 1.5 billion people globally and hold back the poorest communities from reaching their full potential. India is committed to eliminate two of these NTDs - Lymphatic Filariasis (Hathipaon) and Visceral Leishmaniases (Kala-Azar) that put the future of our children at high risk.” 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan; along with Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and other delegates signed the Call to Action to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2021.

 

Since the launch of the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) by the World Health Organization in 2000, endemic countries across the world including India have adopted a twin pillar strategy - prevention through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) using combination of 2 anti-filarial drugs (DEC and Albendazole), and, providing Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) services to those affected by the disease. Renewing India’s commitment towards elimination, the Government launched the Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) in 2018, and as part of intensifying efforts towards elimination later rolled out IDA treatment in a phased manner. 

 

By the end of February 2019, India successfully rolled out IDA across 4 districts including Arwal in Bihar, Simdega in Jharkhand, Nagpur in Maharashtra and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 8.07 million people out of 10.7 million vulnerable people (75.4%) were benefitted with the IDA medicines.