Fiji continues the fight to eliminate lymphatic Filariasis which has burdened Fijians for several decades now.

The Health Ministry has launched a seven day Mass Drug Administration campaign to treat and prevent infections.

Health Minister Jone Usamate has encouraged Fijians to make use of this final Mass Drug Administration (MDA) that is now underway to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.

“The MDA target this year is to treat more than 80%, if not all, eligible individuals that reside in communities that fall under the Eastern Division of the Ministry, namely the population in all communities in Lau (Vanuabalavu and Lakeba Subdivisions), Kadavu, Lomaiviti, and Rotuma; the MDA will also occur in Taveuni in the Northern division and also on Malolo Island in the Western division.”

These communities still register a prevalence rate that exceeds one percent, which means the drug administration must cover eighty percent of them.

The objectives of the campaign in Lau, Kadavu, Lomaiviti, Rotuma, Taveuni and Malolo are to bring the infection rate to below one percent.

Fiji had a prevalence rate of sixteen percent in 2001 meaning that sixteen out of every one hundred persons were infected by Lymphatic Filarisis – this has been reduced to nine point six percent.

The MDA ends on Saturday next week.