The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed plans to conduct filariasis tests on 14,000 individuals in the Maldives.
The filariasis screening programme will be commence on March 16 in order to assess the prevalence of the disease among both residents and foreigners residing in the Maldives. The programme will be a collaborative effort involving the HPA, Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC), hospitals, health centres, and all local councils.
Speaking to PSM News, Head of Communicable Diseases and Prevention Control at HPA Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq explained that sampling will be carried out across all the islands to kickstart the nationwide screening programme. She highlighted that sampling will extend to industrial islands and certain resorts with significant foreign populations. Moreover, she emphasised that samples would be collected from randomly selected households, with individuals aged 18 and above eligible to participate in the screening.
The decision to launch a filariasis screening programme comes in response to an outbreak of the disease in the Maldives in December last year.