Campaign against elephantiasis from today

The government has started a mass drug administration progamme against elephantiasis in 56 districts across the country from Saturday.

Government-appointed health workers are visiting door to door from today to distribute the medicines- albendazole and diethyl caramazin in areas, including the Kathmandu Valley. The programme is to conclude on Tuesday.

The programme is part of the government's plan to eradicate the disease from the country by 2018.

The medicines should be taken every year for six years, the ministry said.

Elephantiasis is the second major disease -- leprosy being the first -- to cause permanent and long-term disability in the country. According to the Health Ministry, about 26.1 million people in 60 districts, including the Kathmandu Valley, are at high risk.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the disease has affected 40 million people in 83 countries. Of the affected, one- third are in Africa and India each, while the rest are in other parts of South Asia. The WHO has already made worldwide commitment to eliminating the disease by 2020. Nepalnews.com