The filariasis eradication programme will be launched here from March 12 to 31. The programme is jointly organised by the state and Union Governments.
According to District Administration officials, training will be given to select persons representing ayalkkoottam, anganwadis and residence associations for conducting the programme. The training will be given by the District Vector Control Unit.
The volunteers will visit households in Kochi and will distribute Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole tablets.
The medicine does not have side-effects, and the officials said that everyone, excluding the sick, pregnant women and children below the age of two have been requested to consume the tablets. The tablets help get rid of filarial larvae from blood stream.
“The programme is being organised in India as per the instructions given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to eradicate elephantiasis by 2015. We will appoint volunteers to cover households in the city and hope that the residents will cooperate with the effort,” said District Medical Officer Dr Junaid Rehman.