By Our Correspondent
Baglung, Mar. 7: Lymphatic filariasis, generally known as elephantiasis in Nepal, has not come under control in Baglung district even after 12 rounds of mass drug administration.
According to Suraj Gurau, chief at District Health Office (DHO), Baglung, many people were reluctant to take the drug against elephantiasis during the campaign. People were found taking drug at their homes and not consuming it, he said.

Due to the lack of awareness, rumours about side effects of medicines and the prevalence of floating populations, people are still reluctant to take the drug, he added.
The number of elephantiasis patients is high at Baglung Municipality and Jaimini Municipality.
Due to the low coverage of the programme in some places, the district was unable to achieve the target despite several additional rounds of medication campaigns.

Locals of Narayansthan of Baglung Municipality are reluctant to take the drug due to the religious beliefs and rumours about the side effects of the medicine.
The DHO has managed vaccine card for the locals of Narayansthan to keep the record of the drug administration. The DHO in coordination with local government is working to cover all people of the area in drug administration, said Gurau.

“We are planning to make elephantiasis drug administration card like that of COVID-19 vaccination card which is mandatory for receiving public services,” said Gurau.
Last year, the drug administration campaign was carried out as the last one, but with the increasing number of cases after test, the campaign was again launched this year.

According to Laxmi Sharma, Public Health Officer, preparation is going on for drug administration campaign against elephantiasis across the district from March 12.
Due to the low coverage of the programme in some places, the district was unable to achieve the target despite several additional rounds of medication campaigns.

After the 12 rounds of drug administration against elephantiasis in Narayansthan and Kusmisera, 10 people were found to be infected with the disease, due to which the drug administration campaign is being conducted again, said Sharma. If the disease is not under control at one place, the drug administration should be conducted across the district.

The infection rate of the disease was three per cent in 2014 and it declined to 2.66 per cent in 2021. The drug administration is mandatory as the infection has not declined below 2 per cent, said Sharma.