The Directorate of Public Health in Tamil Nadu has conducted a massive drug administration programme on June 7 by distributing diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) tablets and albendazole tablets to over 2.7 crore people spanning over 20 districts in the state to prevent lymphatic filariasis. Filariasis is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes which breeds in sewage water. It causes irreversible swelling of legs or arms, physical disability and social stigma.

Dr Elango, director of Public Health told Pharmabiz that Tamil Nadu is the only state distributing albendazole 400 mg tablets along with DEC tablets for the prevention of this disease. He said the massive drug administration programme was conducted as part of the National Health Policy. Even though there is no new case of filariasis in the state, there are old cases in some southern districts. The tablets were supplied to the state freely by the Government of India.

The drugs were administered orally to the people by health department staff and other volunteers comprising Anganwadi workers, members of NGOs and women-self help groups, according to sources from the health department.

People above the age of 60 years, children under two years, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic ailments have been avoided from the coverage of the program. About 7.4 crore tablets were distributed under the programme.

The health director said people in the age group of 2 to 5 were given one DEC 100 mg tablet and an albendazole 400 mg tablet, for those between six years and 14 years were administered two DEC tablets and one albendazole tablet, and for others the dosage was three DEC tablets and one albendazol.

In Chennai, the Corporation's health department undertook the prevention programme by distributing the tablets in a door-to-door campaign. Sixty four corporation wards were covered in the first phase.

Other districts where the drug administration was done included Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Tirunelveli, Cuddalore, Vellore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Perambalur, Nagapattinam, Karur and Kanyakumari.

The health officials said these tablets would clear the blood of disease-causing parasites and it would not be possible for mosquitoes to transmit the disease. People who show no symptoms of the disease were also asked to consume the tablets to break the transmission chain. In Tiruchi district, an estimated 21.77 lakh people were targeted for coverage under the programme. In the district, about 14,39,322 people in the rural areas and 7,38,205 persons in the urban areas were given the drugs.

In Thanjavur district, the tablets were distributed to 20 lakh people, while in Tiruvarur district, 10,61,255 persons were given. In Tiruvarur district, U. Mathivanan, State Minister for Diary Development inaugurated the programme. Around Rs 30 lakh worth of DEC tablets and Rs 1.5 crore worth of albentazole tablets were distributed in the state.

In Kanyakumari district, 7297 volunteers have involved in the programme of distributing tablets. A total of 14.90 lakh people were given 37.30 lakh DEC tablets and 14.90 lakh albendazole tablets. In Tuticorin district, Alwarthirunagari block was the only area identified for the programme, where 33 cases of lymphatic filariasis were registered.