By Martha Simchimba

Lilongwe; March 7, Mana. Lilongwe District Health Office (DHO) has embarked on a Bilharzia drug mass distribution campaign in order to eliminate the disease in the district.

Speaking Tuesday during a media briefing in Lilongwe, District Health Promotion Officer, Richard Mvula, said the exercise which started on Tuesday, March 5, is expected to end on March 9.

“We are targeting school going children from the age of six upwards as well as adults. At the end of the exercise we are expected to reach out to 800,000 people in the district,” he said.

He appealed to parents to sensitize their children to take the drugs at school once it is administered.

“Bilharzia is one of the diseases which has been earmarked for elimination just like we did with other neglected tropical diseases such as Lymphatic IASIS. That is why we have decided to conduct this campaign so that no one is left behind and declare Malawi free from Bilharzia,” he said.

Currently, Lilongwe DHO is working hand in hand with Ministry of Education by going to each and every school meeting primary school learners.

Mvula said, in the communities they will be going around in places where people usually meet and also engage volunteers on door to doors services.

Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) Chief Executive Officer, George Jobe, welcomed the intervention saying it has come at the right time when the country is still receiving rains.

 "Knowing that Bilharzia has affected Malawi for a long time, it is very encouraging that the country aims at eliminating the disease. My appeal to parents and stakeholders is to positively welcome the intervention," he said.

The campaign is being conducted in three districts of Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe.