The Health Ministry is continuing to distribute Diethylcarbmazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole medication to communities in order to prevent the lymphatic filariasis (LF) and soil transmitted helminthiasis (STH).
Head of the department for non-communicable disease Dr Merita Monteiro said the five-year program was now entering its second phase.
“In the first phase, there were a number of community members who did have not access to the medicine because when the team went to their house they were not home,” she said.
Some people also refused to take the medicine as it caused dizziness, but Dr Monteiro said it was safe to use.
“All medicines have this reaction, particularly DEC, therefore take it after meals otherwise you will feel dizzy and vomit,” she said.
DEC is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used throughout South East Asia to prevent lymphatic filariasis.
One of the major problems faced by the ministry team and the distribution program was the large distances between households.
Based on the plan, the second phase will get underway across the country next month.
Meanwhile, President of Commission F (responsible for health, education, veteran affairs and gender equality) Virgilio da Costa Hornai said he considered the program a good initiative, but also called for a community health campaign.
The main causes of lymphatic filariasis are an unclean environment and unhealthy lifestyle.
“It is important to hold a national healthy lifestyle campaign, which can also [help to] combat the disease,” he said.
Regarding community access to the medicine, he said for his part he also did not receive the medicine from the ministry team.
A 2012 survey by the Health Ministry showed that lymphatic filariasis still existed in Timor.
The research showed Covalima had the highest number of cases with 35%, followed by Manufahi 30.7%, Ermera 30.5%, Bobonaro 23.7%, Oecusse 23.2%, Ainaro 18.4%, Manatuto 18%, Lautem 14.5%, Liquica 13.9%, Aileu 13.7%, Dili 11.2%,Viqueque 10.4% and Baucau 10.3%.
