Japanese company donates face masks, gloves

A Japanese research and development-based pharmaceutical company recently donated face masks and gloves to the Department of Health for individuals who are at risk of contracting lymphatic filariasis (LF).
Under the mass drug administration (MDA) programme, pharmaceutical company, Eisai Co Ltd donated 50,000 face masks and 35,000 gloves.
The donation was made through a Japanese technical cooperation project by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), as countermeasures for the Covid-19 in supporting the programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
In a statement, Jica said LF was a neglected tropical disease transmitted to humans by mosquito bites which affected the limbs.
The face masks and gloves will be used to protect LF participants from the coronavirus (Covid-19) who will be implementing the strategy this year in East and West New Britain.
The World Health Organisation recommended the MDA strategy to eliminate LF and to stop virus infections during the administering of annual doses to the at-risk population in all endemic areas.
PNG has been a recipient of anthelmintic and diethylcarbamazine (DEC tablets)
Jica said Eisai had supplied the tablets freely to 250 million people at risk in LF endemic countries through the WHO with the aim to eliminate the disease.
The tablet is a medication used in the treatment of lymphatic filariasis and could be used for prevention of loiasis in those at high risk.
In New Ireland (2014–2018) and ENB (2019 to current), MDA had being implemented with DEC tablets donated by Eisai.
MDA will start in West New Britain this year.