Filaria can be eliminated by 2027 – PAHO/WHO

The Education Ministry has collaborated with the Public Health Ministry on the Lymphatic Filariasis Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme in efforts to eradicate filaria in Guyana.
This was formalised at the MDA launch held at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown on Saturday.
Education Minister Nicolette Henry, in her remarks at the launch, stressed that school health education and promotion is intimate to educational achievement, quality of life, and economic productivity in reference to the World Health Organisation’s Expert Committee.
The programme was engineered by the findings of recent studies which indicated the age group that did not meet the 65 per cent mark for taking medication to fight the infection were children. As such, the Minister assured that the Education Ministry pledges full support to the initiative.
“With this initiative, the Mass Drug Administration Campaign against Filaria (has started), and every parent or guardian will be furnished with a form that has some very important information on the campaign; as well as a detachable sheet that you, as parents and guardians, will be required to fill out and return to the child’s class teacher if (you) feel so strongly about (your) child not being given tablets to prevent this disease.”
According to Minister Henry, the Ministry of Public Health staff will be distributing tablets that will be given to each child. The Minister also gave tips that parents could employ to play an active role in ensuring the continued good health of their children.
Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, indicated that since the launch of the MDA programme in Guyana in 2003, there has been a significant reduction of new cases of Lymphatic Filariasis.
Studies have shown that the infection is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide among both sexes, hence according to the minister, the programme is geared at promoting the available medical solutions to combat Lymphatic Filariasis, which is a priority of the Public Health Ministry.
In addition, Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Representative for the Guyana Country Office, Dr William Adu-Krow, is optimistic that if all protocols are followed, Guyana can eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027.
The programme serves to reduce the density of parasites circulating in the blood of infected persons and the prevalence of the infection within communities to such low levels that transmission cannot be continuous, resulting in the cessation of infections.