Leogane: At the lymphatic filariasis clinic, a doctor examines the swollen foot of a patient. Damaged skin such as this in between the toes is a prime site for secondary infections – WHO
Jayapura, Jubi – The head of the Jayapura City Health Department, Arif Dwi Darmanto, said his office’s data shows that the number of filariasis patients has increased in Koya Tengah village.
“From the latest data, there were 21 cases, but now it’s growing again. Jayapura city and various other districts are becoming endemic areas,” Arif told Jubi, on last week.
He revealed a Filariasis Elimination Program will be launched symbolically in Jayapura city, next October 5th by the governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe.
“We will be assisted by the Papua Provincial Health Office. We will also involve health centers and sub-health centers to combat it,” he said.
Meanwhile, quoting from media Jakarta, said October 1 will mark the start of nationwide mass drug administration for lymphatic filariaris. This program is in collaboration with the Ministry of Health as part of a government campaign to urge people taking anti-elephantiasis medicine once a year in each of those dates, for five years in order to prevent the disease.
“This is a government program, because based on the study, it is proved that drugs can eliminate cases of elephantiasis disease as much as 1 percent per year,” said Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health (P2PL) of the Ministry of Health, Muhammad Subuh.
He also explained that cases of elephantiasis patients diminishing every year. Starting from the year 1980 the number of patients with this disease as much as 19.5 percent, while in 2014 the number of patients was reduced by 4.6 percent.
While in 2020, the government expects the number of sufferers back down minimum of one percent. (Sindung Sukoco/ Tina)
