In rural areas people prefer to consult the local Vaids and Ojhas who practice traditional medicine as they are easily accessible within the villages. Since the traditional medicines are not scientifically proven, they might sometimes cause more harm rather than curing the ailment.
We came across an 18 years old girl named Subela Surin who was suffering from filariasis on right foot. She consulted a local Vaid of her village and was taking the medicine prescribed by him. Instead of getting cured, her ailment got worse. She then took painkiller from the local pharmacy as the pain got unbearable. The disability caused by filariasis interrupts with her daily chores. We counselled her and referred her to Community Health Center, Kamdara for treatment. After follow-up we got to know that she visited Kamdara CHC on 12th of October, 2022 for treatment.
Filariasis in Ms. Subela Surin’s right foot
Ms. Subela’s treatment at Kamdara PHC
Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis is a vector borne infectious disease spread by Culex mosquitoes. According to statistics, it is the second largest cause of disability worldwide. In India 256 districts across 16 states and five union territories are endemic for lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis affects more than 23 million people with nearly 650 million people at the risk of acquiring the infection in India.
In Jharkhand, filariasis is prevalent in 18 out of 24 districts and Gumla is one among them. Apart from affecting physically, it also affects a person mentally with financial losses often leading to poverty. According to WHO it is the second most common cause after mental illness in terms of long-term disability. Vector control and Mass Drug Administration (MDA) in endemic areas are two effective measures of controlling the occurrence and spread of filariasis.
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