New DEC salt to help eliminate Filariasis by 2015 –
Guyanese urged to
take responsibility for their own
Georgetown, GINA, Thursday, July 24, 2003
The Ministry of Health today officially launched
its National Filariasis Programme with the distribution of DEC
salt and its get on the B.U.S. (B-uy DEC salt, U-se DEC salt,
S-hare this information with family and friends) campaign. The
programme was launched in collaboration with the Pan American
Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation, The United
States-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the
United Nations Children’s Fund.
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy told a sizable gathering
at the Merriman’s Mall that filaria is a disease that can
be treated and eliminated, and therefore give the Government’s
commitment to ensure that its elimination is in keeping with the
2015 deadline for the Americas. He said that today we celebrate
yet another milestone. He believes with Guyana being the first
country worldwide to embark on a national campaign to eliminate
this disease, the goal can be achieved by 2010.
DEC salt is used in countries such as China, Haiti and India,
but Guyana is the first to have a national approach to the use
of the salt. He said that diseases, such as, measles and small
pox have been eliminated worldwide as a result of national approaches
being taken to combat them.
Dr. Bernadette Theodore-Ghandi, the PAHO/WHO Representative in
Guyana said many young people today will not be aware of the realities
of lymphatic Filariasis. She said that it is anticipated that
approximately 120 million people through out the tropic are affected
by the disease, resulting in social stigmatization by those affected.
She added that it is also a major contributor to poverty.
Dr. Theodore-Ghandi said that many people in the Americas become
complacent and do not regard the disease as a health problem.
Filariasis is endemic in four countries in the Americas, including
Guyana, whilst three countries in the Americas are awaiting Filariasis-free
status from the World Health Organisation. In recognition to Guyana’s
commitment to the elimination of Filariasis nationally, the WHO
has donated 6,342kg of Di-Ethyl Carbamazine, the substance used
for producing DEC Salt. The salt is produced in Trinidad, Jamaica
and Cuba.
The PAHO/WHO representative said that her organisation, along
with the Centers for disease Control and Prevention are giving
technical support to the producers to ensure that the right final
product is achieved. The Minister of Health said, too, that the
support given to the programme is integrally important.
He said that diseases do not have to be inevitable. He noted that
it should not only be aiming to eliminate filaria, but we should
seek to confront diseases, such as, HIV/AIDS and malaria, while
addressing issues, such as, better nutritional values. He referred
to a campaign to take health on the road to be embarked on some
time in September this year. The programme will be a campaign
to get Guyanese to take responsibility for their own health.
Minister Ramsammy said that today’s launch is a reflection
of vision and action. He said, too, that commitment and action
are demonstrated with such an event. Chief Medical Officer, Dr.
Rudolph Cummings said that the Ministry has been long in planning
for the promotion of the salt. He said that lots of messages will
be in the media in an effort to boost public awareness and participation.
The DEC salt which will be launched countrywide is not a cure
for the disease, but rather, a preventative agent that kills the
threadlike worms that live in the blood.
TOP
