The government through the division of Vector borne and neglected tropical diseases is set to release a report on transmission assessment survey for Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as Elephantiasis on Tuesday.
The exercise under the Health ministry, has been targeting school going children and seeks to evaluate the progress of the government in eliminating the disease in the country.
The exercise, which commenced on September 6, will come to close on Tuesday.
According to a statement by Head of Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit Dr Sultani Matendechero, the exercise has been targeting all the sub-counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River.
"In Taita Taveta county, it will only target Taveta subcounty because this is the only subcounty affected by the disease,” he said.
According to medical experts, elephantiasis is spread through an infected mosquito and often leads to stigma to the infected person.
Elephantiasis causes localised retention of fluid in the legs (lymphedema) and in some cases may cause retention of fluid in testicular area (hydrocele).
Hydrocele can be corrected through surgery and occurs in men mostly while lymphedema, common in women, can only be managed by providing a minimum package of care through keeping the infected area clean at all times, adopting activities that help the fluid to circulate and also providing an enabling environment that will help the fluids to circulate.
In November 2018, the government rolled out a massive door-to-door elephantitis treatment, and hoped to break the transmission or end the disease by 2020.
“The beneficiaries of the government programme have been on medication for the last five years and this exercise is to assess the progress in eliminating the disease,” Entomological lab technologist Kanyi Gitonga said during a past interview.
According to the World Health Organisation, 947 million people in 54 countries are currently living in areas that require preventive chemotherapy to stop the spread of infection.
-Edited by SKanyara
