Summary:
NAGPUR: As part of the national programme for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) by 2020, the Maharashtra government is launching the ‘Triple Drug Therapy-IDA’ on Sunday from Nagpur. It is claimed that if even 85% of the people consume the three drugs LF can be eradicated.Speaking at the prelaunch of the three-drug therapy IDA-MDA project, public health minister Eknath Shinde sought public and media support for the project’s success. Nagpur city alone had 4,758 cases of lymphoedema (swelling in legs) and 2,877 cases of hydrocele in 2017. But now WHO has added one more drug — Ivermectin — and hence the therapy is being called as IDA. The project will be completed between 5 to 15 days to ensure maximum population coverage..