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RAJSHAHI, Jan 20 (BSS): Creation of mass awareness about preventive drugs, development of hygienic environment and checking of mosquito menace can eliminate the harmfu filaria disease. The recommendations were given at a view exchange meeting of experts with newsmen here Thursday.
Rajshahi Niskrity, in collaboration with LEPRA Bangladesh, a primary healthcare organisation, arranged the discussion at its office in observance of the National Filariasis Day.
Director of Niskrity SKL Muhammad Lalon, Deputy Director Shahidul Islam, Health Education Officer of LEPRA Bangladesh Azad Rahman discussed causes, prevention and prevalence of the disease on the occasion.
They said filariasis or elephantiasis is not only a public nuisance in the country but also a social and economical burden. They, however, said the disease is not hereditary nor is it a curse. Rather it is only caused by mosquito bites.
Four female species of mosquitoes- anopheles, culex, aedes and manosonia act as vector of the disease. In this regard they noted that the habitats and breeding places of the mosquitoes must be destroyed.
Experts at the meeting said the disease has so far affected 32 districts but seven of those like Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj are the worst affected.
They said the government has formulated a national plan and has been working to make the country free from filariasis by 2015 according to the guideline of the WHO.
Earlier, the organisers brought out a rally from the Dainik Barta cross roads and paraded the city streets in order to create awareness about the effects of the disease. Deputy Commissioner Syed Ahsanul Haque, Civil Surgeon AK Fazlul Haque and NGO officials and representatives and workers of other organisations concerned took park in the rally.
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