States » NorthPosted at: Oct 22 2026 4:03PM


New Initiative in UP towards Filaria elimination: Focus shifts to reaching those who have ‘Never Taken’ the Medication

Lucknow, Oct 22 (UNI) With the goal of making Uttar Pradesh Filaria-free, the focus has now shifted toward those who have remained outside the scope of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign.
The Health Department’s strategy now places special emphasis on identifying individuals in the ‘never taken’ category—those who have never consumed the anti-filarial medication—and ensuring they receive it. This initiative marks a significant step toward fostering behavioral change within the community, moving beyond a narrow focus on mere drug administration.
The MDA campaign is scheduled to take place between November 19 and December 7 across 53 planning units (blocks) in 16 districts of the state. The greatest challenge for Filaria eradication at the grassroots level is reaching individuals who, due to a lack of awareness, apprehensions, or misconceptions, have not taken the medication to date. Some people are unaware that a disease like Filaria can lead to severe, long-term physical complications and disability. Others, feeling perfectly healthy, do not perceive the need to take the medication.
In this context, the role of ASHA workers and other frontline health personnel becomes crucial. During door-to-door visits, they inquire whether family members have previously taken the anti-filarial medication. This process helps identify eligible individuals who have consistently been missed in past campaigns.
In this campaign against Filaria, it is essential not only to administer the medication but also to engage with people and address their concerns. Members of the Patient Stakeholder Platform (PSP) are organizing street plays to educate families about the risks of the disease, preventive measures, and the importance of taking medication in accordance with prescribed guidelines. This initiative provides an opportunity for those who have never taken the medication—as well as those who have previously refused it—to openly discuss their concerns; consequently, many have now agreed to take the medication during the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign, which begins on November 19.
Following street plays held last week across six villages in the Bidhnu block of Kanpur, several individuals who had previously never taken the medication came forward and pledged to participate in the upcoming MDA campaign. Ramshri, a resident of Ramaipur village, shared that the street play helped her understand the importance of the medication. She now intends to take it herself, ensure her family members do the same, and encourage her neighbors to follow suit. Shanti, from Magrasa, had previously decided against taking the medication again after experiencing nausea and dizziness the first time; however, after watching the play, she gained a better understanding and has now decided to take the medication herself and administer it to her children.
Harinam Singh, from Umariya village in the Parsendi block of Sitapur, previously questioned the need for medication when no symptoms of the disease were present. After watching the play, he realized that taking the medication is essential—even in the absence of symptoms—to prevent the disease from developing in the future. Haji Kamruddin, from Parsendi Purwa, mentioned that he had never taken the medication before, as he had never experienced such an illness. Nevertheless, after watching the street play, he is now prepared to take the medication during the upcoming campaign.
According to State Filaria Officer Dr. A. K. Chaudhary, preparations for the MDA campaign are complete, and the medication has reached all 16 designated districts. Training for officials and staff from the Primary and Secondary Education departments, as well as the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), has been completed to ensure interdepartmental coordination. A training session with the Panchayati Raj Department is also scheduled for this week. On Thursday, a central health team reviewed the state preparations by holding individual discussions with officials from all 16 districts.
It was stated that the target for this round is to ensure that more than 90 percent of the population in each planning unit consumes the medication under direct supervision. Key focus areas include identifying individuals who have never taken the medication or have previously refused it, ensuring that those who do take it meet the eligibility criteria, following up with those who were missed and fostering community participation.
The MDA campaign is set to take place across 53 planning units (blocks) in the following districts: Kanpur Nagar, Unnao, Kanpur Dehat, Chitrakoot, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shravasti, Prayagraj, Gonda, Hardoi, Kannauj, Ballia, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, and Kaushambi. Fatehpur has the highest number of planning units (11), followed by Sitapur (10) and Kanpur Dehat (7).
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Tags: #New Initiative in UP towards Filaria elimination: Focus shifts to reaching those who have ‘Never Taken’ the Medication
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