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January 16, 2018
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ILOILO City – This city is now free from filariasis, a parasitic disease, and for this feat it received a P500 thousand incentive from the Department of Health (DOH).
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, as a painful and disfiguring disease causing temporary or permanent disability. It is caused by thread-like nematode worms that nest in the human lymphatic system, the network of nodes and vessels that maintain the delicate fluid balance between blood and body tissues.
In a recent awarding ceremony, DOH also gave the city government a plaque of recognition.
City Health Officer Dr. Bernard Caspe said making the city filariasis-free was a big achievement.
“The city government prioritizes healthcare. We worked for the eradication of filariasis for three years,” Caspe stressed.
The City Health Office distributed medicines to barangays, informed the public of the preventive measures and took blood samples from people for analysis.
“We will sustain these activities to prevent transmission of infection caused by mosquitoes,” said Caspe.
DOH has a mass drug administration program to eradicate filariasis. It hopes to make the whole country filariasis-free by 2018. Subjects are made to take medicines diethylcarbamazine citrate and albendazole once a year.
The first case of lymphatic filariasis in Iloilo province was confirmed in 2006. The mass drug administration started in 2008.
In the Philippines, the elimination of lymphatic filariasis started in 2001 in 44 endemic provinces, including Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique in Western Visayas. (Thessalonia Ordales, Iloilo City PIO/PN)
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