Gandhinagar, Feb 9 || The Gujarat Health Department will launch the third round of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme against filariasis from February 10 to 12, covering four talukas across Bharuch, Narmada and Dang districts, officials said on Monday.
The campaign aims to eliminate elephantiasis, also known as lymphatic filariasis, in line with the Central Government’s nationwide target to eradicate the disease by 2030.
The MDA drive will be conducted in Netrang taluka of Bharuch district, Nandod and Dediapada talukas of Narmada district, and Waghai taluka of Dang district.
More than 5.48 lakh people are expected to be covered under the programme across these four talukas.
According to health officials, Gujarat has identified 17 districts in Saurashtra and South Gujarat as sensitive to filariasis.
As part of disease surveillance in areas earlier classified as non-endemic, night blood surveys were carried out in several districts and municipal corporations.
These surveys detected the presence of filarial parasites in blood samples from the four talukas, prompting their inclusion in the MDA programme.