With just a day left for the administering of the lymphatic filariasis drugs, Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) officials say they've made substantial progress in rolling it out on Upolu and Savai'i islands.

In Savai'i, 96 per cent of the targeted population has been covered while for Upolu, 72 per cent was also covered, according to Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompsen and Acting Director General, Atoa Dr. Glenn Fatupaito at a press conference on Saturday. Tagaloa is leading the campaign and Atoa gave the statistics for the one week of outreach programs.

"The campaign is going really well and that's why we would also like to acknowledge the support of our communities, women, village representatives, as well as those who have been supporting the campaign, especially the staff of MOH in trying to cover the whole of Samoa with the campaign and to eradicate this worm from our country," said Tagaloa. 

Starting last Saturday 16 September, the target population for all the islands of Samoa was 215,000 (based on the 2021 census) with health authorities focusing on all district hospitals in Savai'i. Safotu, Sataua Hospital, Malietoa Tanumafiti II Hospital and Satupaitea Hospital were covered according to Tagaloa.

For Upolu, outreach was done in the Apia urban area which has the highest population of over 84,929 from Laulii to Leauvaa, Aleisa and Afiamalu. As of last Friday 22 September, a total of 165,911 people were approached and of that population 145,540 have been covered. However, there were some who could not be administered the drugs for various reasons. 

Low coverage was identified at the Leulumoega Hospital and Apia urban area which was below 70 per cent while the rest of other hospitals including Lufilufi, Lalomanu, Poutasi, Saanapu and Faleolo hospitals attained more than 70 per cent coverage.

Tagaloa also stressed that the lymphatic filariasis drugs normally don't have contraindications except for children who are below 2 years of age and those who are allergic to any of the three types of tablets

"People have different reactions to the drugs," he added. "Those that are banned from taking these tablets are pregnant women, women who have just given birth and their babies are seven days old, as well as those who are lying in hospital beds because of the precautionary measures because of the side effects of the tablets."

The campaign will conclude on Sunday 24 September. However, if the targeted population is not reached by Sunday, the drugs will still be available at the hospitals for another month while the Ministry's Public Health Division will continue to open their doors for anyone to take the tablets any day between 9 am and 5 pm.

Dr. Fatupaito urged the nation, especially those who are yet to take their drugs to join the fight to eliminate the disease from the country.