AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Dr. Ashutosh Biswas sets example in Mass Drug Administration

Bhubaneswar, 22/02/2023: To continue the momentum on, the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) has been executed at AIIMS Bhubaneswar campus today in association with District Health Administration, Khurda. To begin with, AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Dr. Ashutosh Biswas set an example for all by consuming the DEC and Albendazole tablets in the presence of Khurda CDMO and other senior officials.

After initiating the process, Dr. Biswas urged all to complete their doses for eliminating the Lymphatic Filariasis. Under the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control, an annual dose of DEC and Albendazole is administered through mass drug administration (MDA) in all 256 endemic districts in India. Out of 256 Filaria prone districts, Odisha has 20 endemic districts including Khurda, said Dr. Biswas.

AIIMS Bhubaneswar has set up a dedicated MDA Corner in OPD foyer for free distribution of DEC & Albendazole tablets to patients and their relatives. Also, faculties, students, staff and families residing in the premises of AIIMS Bhubaneswar are also being distributed the drugs by a dedicated health team. Today, more than 544 persons have consumed the drugs at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Among others DEAN (Academic) Dr. P R Mohapatra, DEAN(Research) Dr. Binod Patra, faculty from CMFM Dept. Dr. Binod Behera took part in the MDA process and consumed the drug. The programme witnessed the presence of Khurda CDMO Dr. Aratabandhu Nayak, DMO Dr. Jeebanta Kumar Achari, VBDTS Deepak Kumar Nayak, Susmita Samantaray, District Officer PCI Jobkimson Pradhan.

It may be noted here that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India had launched the National Programme to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in 2004. However, MDA is contraindicated for Pregnant women, Children below two years and seriously ill patients.

In a recent meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has set a goal to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, three years ahead of Global target.