Filariasis Elimination Program

Only IACIB has been working on Filariasis Elimination in Bangladesh as per WHO guide line from 1998 at Nilphamari district and Dhaka district at rented house 1. 2. IACIB has successfully completed 3 pilot projects with grant from Ministry of Science and Technology, GoB which includes mass drug treatment in Nilfamari District and 1 project in slum area of Dhaka city. One project was completed on Elimination of Filariasis with grant from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canadian High Commission in Syedpur Upazilla under Nilfamari District of Bangladesh since 1999. In fact Canadian CIDA is the first donor organization in Bangladesh who came forward for support for this neglected disease and supported the IACIB to under take pilot project on filariasis elimination. One Filaria Hospital was established in 2002 at Syedpur under Nilphamari District with grant from The Embassy of Japan and the Hospital has been expanded further in 2009 with support from Govt. of Japan and also with support from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. IACIB has been working on filariasis elimination and morbidity control along with social mobilization for control of other communicable disease as Malaria, Kala-azar, Dengue, Rabies and Vector Control in all Filaria endemic 9 districts under Rajshahi division and filaria & Malaria co-endemic Kurigram district.

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Filaria Hospital: The Filaria Hospital at Syedpur has started functioning from 1 January 2003. The hospital is the only specialized hospital of this kind in Bangladesh and Globally. The hospital has been providing the following services.

Out door services Indoor services Surgery / hydrocelectomy Physiotherapy Diagnostic services Community Home Based Morbidity Control (CHBMC) services Social Mobilization Training to GO-NGO Collaborative programs Filaria health club and community development program Satellite Clinic services Tobacco Control Activities Primary Health Care Services Communicable Disease Control Services Research

The Filaria Hospital has been providing morbidity control services to filariasis patients to reduce their sufferings. As a part of this activity the hospital has been conducting training to Government health and paramedical health staff, NGOs, Rural Medical practitioners, JOCV volunteers. Summary of Statement of Indoor and out door patient attended at Filaria Hospital from January 2003 Dec 2009 is as follows: Indoor Patient Total Patient Hydrocele 49 31 234 185 516 442 256 165 259 109 223 153 368 285 1905 1370

Period Jan - Dec 2003 Jan - Dec 2004 Jan - Dec 2005 Jan - Dec 2006 Jan - Dec2007 JJan - Dec 2008 Jan - Dec 2009 Total

Other 18 49 74 91 150 70 83 535

Period Jan-Dec. 2003 Jan- Dec. 2004 Jan-Dec. 2005 Jan-Dec. 2006 Jan- Dec 2007 Jan-Dec 2008 Jan-Dec 2009 Total

Outdoor patient Total Patient Filaria Patient Other Patient 2009 893 1116 2289 1475 814 4300 2580 1720 5611 3040 2571 11816 3947 7869 12014 3856 8158 18970 4422 14558 57009 20213 36806

Male 883 1163 2051 2871 5353 5385 7303 25009

Female 906 953 1902 2280 5019 4801 8369 24230

Children 220 173 347 460 1444 2362 3338 8344

Filaria cases

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IACIB has completed a project Filariasis morbidity control funded by SIMAVI Netherland. Under this support IACIB prepared a documentary film, the film is shown for social mobilization which is still continuing. Under AUS-AID support IACIB Started Rehabilitation Project on sewing in 2006 among divorced filaria women patients. The project was completed but the project activity (Sewing training and other program) is still continuing with support from Ministry of Health, GOB.

Sewing project for rehabilitation of distress women filaria patients

Under CIDA funded IACIB started 8 Community / Satellite Clinics in 2004-05. The project was completed but the clinic service is still continuing and IACIB started another 3 satellite clinic with support from Ministry of Health. The 8 Community / Satellite Clinics are established in the following places: 1. Number 4 Botlagari Union Parishad, Syedpur, Nilphamari. 2. Number 11 Tetulia Union Parishad, Chirir Bandar Upozila, Dinajpur. 3. Number 3 Bangalipur Union Parishad, Syedpur, Nilphamari. 4. Number 1 Nasratpur Union Parisad, Chirir Bandar Upozila, Dinajpur 5. Charaikhola Family Welfare Center, Sadar, Nilphamari. 6. Rustum Hat, Bat toli Union, Anwara, Chittagong. 7. Saulmari Union, Rawmari, Kurigram. 8. Khalid Vila, College Road, Char Rajibpur, Kurigram

Social Mobilization/ Filaria Day Observation: The Hospital has been observing National Filariasis Day on 15 January every year for social mobilization on filariasis in addition to other IEC activities. The Hospital is supporting the social mobilization activities of Ministry of Health (MOH) during MDA. IACIB has its own Cinema Van.

Morbidity Control by Twisting Torniquet Technique: In August 2008 IACIB started morbidity control program by twisting technique technique at Filaria Hospital with the help of Prof. Wichai Ekataksin from Mahidol University. The program is ongoing now but it was found that people are not continuing the technique as it takes long time, though it is found to be useful.

Filaria Hospital, Syedpur, Nilphamari 6 Filaria Hospital at Savar Dhaka:

IACIB is going to establish one 50 beded Filaria Hospital and Center for Diseases Control (CDC) at Zinzira, Savar, Dhaka with support from Ministry of Social Welfare, GOB. The hospital is now under construction to establish a 10 storied building. There will be provision of Training and research center, Snake Park, Snake venom collection and anti- snake venom production, production of anti- Rabies vaccine of plant origin jointly with University California, Davis, USA etc There is an urgent need for support for its sustainability, gradual expansion so that the hospital can be converted gradually into a National, Regional & International Training and Research center for control of communicable diseases. In addition to the Super ORS the GHSI also has visited at underconstructed Filaria Hospital, Savar, Dhaka and has an agreement with Bangladesh Directorate for Health Services and the Institute for Allergy and Clinical Immunology to begin testing a plant-based vaccine and antibodies for preventing and treating rabies. To see more then click the link: http://digital.davisenterprise.com/news/ucd-led-intiative-seeks-better-global-healththrough-sharing/ The Filaria Hospital Syedpur has been providing hydrocele / scrotal swelling operations by mobile approach with support from Ministry of Health,GOB. There is a plan to expand the hospital for establishment of a Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Filaria Hospital, Savar, Dhaka (Underconstruction) The filaria hospital has also been providing morbidity control services to filariasis patients to reduce their sufferings. As a part of this activity the hospital has been conducting training to Government health and paramedical health staff, NGOs, Rural Medical practitioners, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), Nurses etc. The community based services are also provided through satellite clinic.