Home / Health / India Launches Nationwide Campaign to End Elephantiasis
India Launches Nationwide Campaign to End Elephantiasis
11 Feb
Summary
- Nationwide mass drug administration campaign launched in 12 endemic states.
- Goal is to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem by 2027.
- Strategy shifts to a single annual drug round to improve compliance and surveillance.
India has launched a nationwide annual mass drug administration (MDA) campaign, focusing on 12 highly endemic states to combat lymphatic filariasis. This strategic shift aims to achieve the national target of eliminating the disease by the end of 2027, aligning with global efforts.
The campaign replaces biannual drug rounds with a single annual administration, designed to boost compliance, enhance surveillance, and address logistical challenges. Lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis, is a debilitating mosquito-borne disease causing severe swelling and disability, affecting 348 districts across the country.
With over 6.2 lakh people currently living with lymphoedema and more than 1.2 lakh with hydrocele, the initiative prioritizes reducing microfilaria prevalence. The program also emphasizes morbidity management, including surgeries for hydrocele and chronic swelling, supported by the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme.
