Shibuyunji embarks on mass drug administration against bilharzia

—–The Shibuyunji District health office is on a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign program against bilharzia.

During this program, medical personnel will give the praziquantel drug to people from the age of five and above.

Speaking during the launch at Kapyanga Health Centre, Shibuyunji District Commissioner, Phanuel Mweemba, said bilharzia is a neglected tropical disease that inflicts tremendous disability and suffering yet can be controlled or eliminated through MDA programs.

Mr Mweemba commended government for embarking on a strategy for bilharzia prevention and control morbidity through the periodic treatment of at-risk population.

He urged the health personnel to go out in the community to administer the drug in order to protect the community of Shibuyunji.

And Sibuyuji District Medical Officer, Joyce Banda, said bilharzia is one of the common diseases the district recorded in 2014 which require immediate attention.

Dr Banda said the MDA program, which is meant to last for six days, will help reduce cases of bilharzia in the district.

The medical office intends to reach out to 59,000 people, which is 80 per cent of the human population in the district.

The district recorded 169 cases of bilharzia in 2014.