Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya

Ten point eight (10.8) million People living in Elephantiasis endemic districts in the country received preventive chemotherapy last year during the first mass drug administration for the prevention of the disease, Parliament heard today.

Health minister Chitalu Chilufya told the house in ministerial statement that government is currently undertaking the second mass drug administration in 85 districts of the ten provinces of the country.

Dr. Chilufya says the exercise will continue till 2020 as it is supposed to run for a period of five years in order to achieve the desired results of eliminating the disease.

He says the drugs being distributed have shown to be very effective in the control and elimination of the disease, but was quick to state that preventing the disease requires repeated treatment rounds.

Dr. Chilufya says about 11 million people live in the districts that are endemic to the disease and are therefore at risk of contracting the disease if nothing is done about it.

He has since encouraged all eligible individuals living in the districts where the campaign is being conducted to participate fully.