Patna: Bihar government on Friday launched a Mega Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign aimed at eliminating filariasis, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease, as part of a wider national target to wipe out the illness by 2027. The campaign was inaugurated by the State Health Minister, Mangal Pandey, at Urja Auditorium in Shastri Nagar.
Speaking at the event, health minister said the initiative reflected both the Central Government’s national goal and Bihar’s own commitment to becoming filariasis-free within the next year. He said the state government had taken a “decisive step” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to address the disease, which continues to affect thousands across rural and urban areas.
The MDA campaign will run from February 10 to 27, 2026 across 397 blocks in 34 districts. A key highlight will be February 11, to be observed as “Mega Day”, when health authorities aim to administer anti-filariasis medicines to 10 million people in a single day. Officials estimate that around 158,000 people in Bihar are currently living with filariasis.
To ensure wide coverage, the health department plans to deploy nearly 400,000 trained frontline workers and operate more than 40,000 booths across the state. Pandey said health workers would function in “war mode” on Mega Day to ensure no eligible person is missed during the drive.
The minister also pointed to progress in treating hydrocele, a condition linked to filariasis. Over the past year, more than 18,000 hydrocele surgeries have been performed in Bihar, with the government now targeting complete elimination of the condition by July 2026.
Health department secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh said the campaign would rely heavily on coordination between multiple departments, including women and child development, education and rural livelihoods. Anganwadi centres will host special camps, ASHA workers will go door to door to administer medicines, and JEEViKA women’s groups will help spread awareness at the community level.
Senior officials from the state health society, WHO and partner organisations were present at the launch, underscoring what authorities described as a multi-agency effort to achieve full coverage and long-term disease elimination.
