Patna: Bihar’s health department is preparing to launch an ambitious mass drug administration campaign on February 11, aiming to administer preventive medicines for filariasis to around 10 million “Jeevika Didis” and their family members in a single day. Officials say the initiative, part of the National Filariasis Elimination Campaign, could set a world record for a public health intervention.
The one-day mega campaign will be conducted through around 40,000 Anganwadi centres and health institutions across all 34 districts. It forms part of a broader statewide drive scheduled from February 10 to 28, during which medicines will be administered to a much larger population to curb the spread of the mosquito-borne parasitic disease.
Health officials believe that focusing on Jeevika Didis and their families alone could achieve 30 to 40% coverage of the total target population of 89.7 million people. If achieved, they argue, it would mark one of the largest single-day preventive health interventions ever recorded.
The state adviser for filariasis elimination, said the overall goal is to ensure direct consumption of anti-filarial drugs by 89.7 million people within 17 days. “Several measures have been taken at the state level to ensure the success of this campaign,” he said, highlighting logistical planning and health worker deployment.
Under the programme, two drugs—Albendazole and DEC—will be administered in 19 districts, including Patna, Bhagalpur, Madhubani and Siwan. In the remaining 15 districts, including Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga, a three-drug regimen of Ivermectin, Albendazole and DEC will be provided under the supervision of trained health workers.
