DANG: Educated people in Dang have been refraining from taking medication for filariasis, while less aware people are taking them.

The government has been providing medicines for filariasis every year to people under the National Programme for Prevention of Elephantiasis.

Ignorant people in the villages are found taking the filariasis medicine for fear of infection, in contrast to most of the people who are aware and educated, who avoid taking the medicine, informed the District Public Health Office (DPHO) in Dang.

"People who are aware and educated are the ones who do not take the medicine. The number of people taking the medicine in urban areas and towns is even less," said Prakash Kumar Yogi, the District Public Health Officer.

It has been learnt that people avoid taking the medicine due to psychological fear and other reasons.

Likewise, Supervisor at the DPHO Om Prakash Neupane reiterated the same, “The poor and illiterate people take the medicine realising its importance in case of infection. However, the problem has arisen as people who are thought to be aware and educated try to avoid taking the medicine.”

The three-day programme for Prevention of Elephantiasis is being conducted in Dang district from February 24. Under the programme, the medicines would be distributed to people free of cost. The DPHO has started sensitisation campaign in this connection.

According to the DPHO in Dang, elephantiasis is seen in 13 per cent of the total population of the district.