Mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis elimination amidst COVID-19 pandemic in Odisha, India: A step towards achieving SDG-3.

ABSTRACT

Sustainable Development Goal-3 (SDG) aims to eliminate lymphatic filariasis by 2030 through >65% coverage and compliance of mass drug administration (MDA), the preventive chemotherapy strategy of delivering anthelminthic drugs. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted such programmes, yet MDA was administered during February 2021 in Odisha, India. We aimed to assess the coverage and compliance of the present round of MDA amidst the pandemic and explore factors for non-compliance in Cuttack district of Odisha, a filariasis endemic area. Community-based participants enrolled through multistage stratified sampling were administered a semi-structured questionnaire following COVID-19 protocols. The coverage of MDA was 93.2% whereas consumption was 73.7%. Participants reported that healthcare workers were motivated and satisfactorily explained the benefits of MDA but still fear of side-effects was the major cause of non-compliance. Nonetheless, this recent round of MDA was effective, despite challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic.