MoHSW, WHO to conduct mass drug administration campaign

By Maimuna Sey-Jawo The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with World Health Organization are set to conduct a country-wide mass drug administration campaign starting yesterday to 15th March 2017. The campaign according to health officials will last for 10 days targeting children from the age of 2 to 14 which will be held within 24 districts in the country. In giving the over view of the Campaign, Yahya Camara, NTD focal person, said the campaign forms part of the initiative to control and eliminate neglected tropical disease. These diseases he said, have two main types namely; ECNC disease and tropical neglected disease, adding that it is one of their interventions which is very key. He said the purpose of the campaign is to “ensure that by the year 2020 we have eliminated our two main targets which are Schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis.” Camara added that as a program under the ministry of health and social welfare the NTD program has “developed a master plan and an annual work plan which states categorically clear that by the year 2020 we aspire to eliminate this disease.” According to Camara, they are targeting 203, 000 individuals country-wide for both diseases, thus 60, 000 people will be targeted for soil transminthiasis within two districts, while more than 134, 000 children for schistosomiasis within 22 districts, making it all together 24 districts. The director of health promotion and education, MoHSW, Modou Njie, urged parents to ensure that their children get access to drugs during the campaign. Speaking on be behalf of World Health Organization Dr Sharmila Lareef Jah, stressed that the “diseases have been multiplying in our population and we reach a stage that the disease can no longer be neglected.” He assured parents that the drugs they will be administering to children are safe. Sanjally Trawally, deputy director, health promotion, and Iris Cassez from Life Skill Education Unit under MoBSE both spoke at the event.]]>