The South Tangerang municipal administration will launch a mass treatment program to curb the spread of Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, early next month, targeting 800,000 people at public health clinics in seven districts.
"We have set a target of zero cases of elephantiasis in South Tangerang by 2015," South Tangerang Health Agency head Dadang S. Epit said when introducing the plan at Pamulang University on Thursday.
He encouraged all residents to take the medicine to help prevent elephantiasis, which will be distributed at public health clinics in respective districts on Nov. 5, as early as possible.
The mass treatment program will target at least 80 percent of the 1 million people living in South Tangerang, he added.
“We are holding the mass treatment program because South Tangerang is prone to the spread of the disease,” he said.
The Health Ministry is providing the medication, while the South Tangerang administration will cover the distribution costs.
The medicine, which is a mix of diethylcarbamazine citrate, albendazole and paracetamol, will be distributed to residents for free through 12 public health clinics in the area.
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