By JAMES KUNDA –

A WEEK-LONG campaign against elephantiasis has commenced in Ndola with more than 400,000 residents earmarked to receive preventive medication against the disease.
Elephantiasis is a disease characterised by massive swelling of the legs and private parts of both male and female human beings.
It is caused by a worm that disturbs the flow of fluids in the legs and private parts, leaving victims with swollen body parts.
Drugs commonly administered in the treatment of elephantiasis are albendazole and diethylcarbamazine.
The programme is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (CDMCH) and includes mass drug administration to curb the spread of the disease which has infected eight per cent of Ndola residents.
Ndola principal environmental health officer Lucky Silengo said in an interview yesterday that all health institutions in the district had been supplied with required drugs and equipment for the exercise.
“We have targeted to reach 487,720 people during this exercise, accounting for 92 per cent of the population in Ndola. The only people excluded are children below the age of two and pregnant women whose condition does not allow them to consume the drugs,” he said.
Mr Silengo said pregnant women would be requested to take the preventive medication after they had delivered.
The period earmarked for the drug administration exercise was adequate as it was reached after a survey of how people would access the remedy.
“Medication will be available at all public health institutions and outreach posts. We have also dispatched a team that will be going through selected companies and schools administering the drug,” he said.
Mr Silengo urged members of the public to take the exercise seriously as the disease, which is transmitted by a female mosquito, is incurable but preventable.