Yogi Govt Launches Drive to Make UP Filariasis-Free by 2027

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Mass Drug Administration campaign kicks off in 27 districts; health workers to distribute medicines door-to-door till August 28

By TRH State Desk

Lucknow, August 10, 2025 — The Yogi Adityanath government has set an ambitious target to make Uttar Pradesh filariasis-free by 2027, launching a state-wide eradication campaign on Sunday. The Mass Drug Administration (MDA) drive, rolled out across 195 blocks in 27 districts, will see health workers going door-to-door to distribute preventive medicines until August 28.

Public representatives in the targeted districts took the first dose of the medicine during the launch to encourage public participation. The initiative brings together the State Rural Livelihood Mission, Education Department, Panchayati Raj Department, Food & Civil Supplies Department, and Health Department for a coordinated push against lymphatic filariasis.

Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Dr. Pinky Jowel, said the campaign is being closely monitored to meet the Chief Minister’s vision of aligning with national health standards. Detailed guidelines have been issued to participating departments to ensure consistency and effective execution.

Women from self-help groups are being mobilized to dispel doubts and build confidence in the medication, while schools will raise awareness during morning assemblies. The Food & Civil Supplies Department will share campaign information at ration shops to reach maximum households.

Filariasis, spread by infected Culex mosquitoes, can cause symptoms such as swelling and milky urine years after infection. Though incurable, annual preventive medication for five years can stop the disease’s onset.

To execute the campaign, over 35,483 drug administrators and 7,096 supervisors have been deployed, supported by 390 rapid response teams to address any adverse drug reactions.

The drive covers districts including Gorakhpur, Bahraich, Balrampur, Gonda, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Sitapur, and others, with ICT-enabled monitoring and micro-level planning to ensure success. The UP government has urged all residents to take the medicine and join the fight to eliminate the disease from the state.

In Uttar Pradesh, recent data indicates approximately 146,022 active cases of lymphatic filariasis, with specific figures from Lucknow showing 2,546 active cases (558 in Mall Block, 153 in Malihabad Block, and 217 in Kakori). A report by TV18 said that Uttar Pradesh in 2021 reported a significant portion of India’s 525,440 lymphedema cases and 144,645 hydrocele cases, contributing to the state’s high burden.

For India, the total burden in 2021 was around 525,440 lymphedema cases and 144,645 hydrocele cases, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Telangana being the highest-burden states. “As of 2023, the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control reported 619,000 lymphedema cases and 126,000 hydrocele cases nationwide,” said a report by The Lancet.

These figures reflect the significant public health challenge of lymphatic filariasis, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for a substantial share of India’s cases.

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