Keywords
Citation
(2013), "Tanzania - Caution as all mosquitoes now spread elephantiasis", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 26 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA.06226haa.012
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Tanzania - Caution as all mosquitoes now spread elephantiasis
Article Type:
News and views
From:
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 26, Issue 8
Keywords: Mosquitoes and Elephantiasis; Public Health and Tropical Disease Management; Healthcare and Climate Change
AS Dar es Salaam and Mwanza regions prepare for the start of a mass drug administering campaign against bilharzia and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), health experts have cautioned the public to be more vigilant now that it has been found that all mosquitoes spread elephantiasis.
Speaking during a sensitisation workshop for news editors and journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the National Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Coordinator, Dr Upendo Mwingira, said in the past, only the culex mosquito was known to spread elephantiasis.
Recent studies, however, have shown that even anopheles mosquitoes can, which in the local context means that a huge chunk of the countrys population is now vulnerable to elephantiasis.
“As the world changes because of the effects of such occurrences like climate change, the medical world is also changing while research is helping open up more findings, she explained.
Dr Mwingira said that there were many misconceptions and myths that revolved around elephantiasis, most of which were not true. She suggested mass education and advocacy to do away with such misconceptions. She took note of the widespread belief that the consumption of baby coconut juice was the major cause of the disease.
She refuted the claims, saying that the shells of the coconuts were actually excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes, telling the people to keep their environments clean.
According to NTD statistics, elephantiasis has affected the whole country with a prevalence rate of between 1 and 69 per cent while bilharzia, also a menace countrywide, has a prevalence rate of between 12.7 and 87.6 per cent.
A baseline survey conducted in 2010 for Dar es Salaam and Mwanza for bilharzia showed that Misungwi was on top with 28.84 per cent while for Dar es Salaam it was Ilala District with 16.68 per cent. For the case of lymphatic filariasis, a baseline study conducted in 2004 showed that in the case of Ilala District in Dar es Salaam Region, Tabata Mandela had a 24.34 per cent presence of the disease.
In Kinondoni District, Tandale and Temboni came up top with 37.21 per cent and 37.25 per cent respectively while in Temeke District, Kigamboni led with 36.25 per cent.
“I would like to call upon everyone over the age of 5 to come out on June 22, 2013 and get administered with the two drugs. The drugs have been examined by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and are safe for human use, she assured the public.
Dr Mwingira cautioned that it was normal to get headaches and feel woozy as the drugs get into conduct with the parasites but it wasnt life threatening. She said that although research was underway such that all drugs against NTDs can be combined into one tablet such that one doesnt have to swallow many drugs, they were waiting for World Health Organisation WHO) guidance.
NTD Secretariat member, Dr Edward Kirumbi, said that the best and most effective way towards the control and eventual eradication of NTDs is through prevention - treatment method.
Dr Kirumbi said the June 22 campaign would both treat those with the parasites and also prevent risks for a year before another dose is taken. He strongly urged everyone in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza to take part in the exercise, warning that those who wont will be putting others to risk through infections
“In accordance with the laws and regulations of the country, it is forbidden to force someone to take a drug or injection and therefore, much as we cant force people to take part in the campaign, we strongly urge them to take part, considering the seriousness of the diseases, he said.
NTD Programme Officer Bernard Kilembe said that the campaign would take five days. Primary schools, bus stops, markets and prisons would be drug dispensation centres while municipal councils will coordinate the function.
He said that a system of direct observation treatment would be used in which one wouldnt be able to take a dose for one who is at home. Expecting mothers are not included in the programme.
For more information: http://www.dailynews.co.tz