We can recall how during the Covid plandemic, doctors who prescribed the drug ivermectin, were punished, and soon the drug was no longer available from pharmacies. It was said to be a "horse paste," used for treating parasites in horses, which it is. But, according to my drug guide, ivermectin can also be used to treat intestinal parasites in humans. Whether it is effective as a treatment for Covid-19, we can leave unaddressed.
What should be noted is that World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh is carrying out a large-scale Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and Health Sector partners to deal with scabies among Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char. One of the drugs being used is ivermectin! Thus, so much for being a "horse paste"! The benefits, if any of this drug for dealing with Covid-19 should be subject to independent (i.e., not funded by Big Pharma) studies.
"The World Health Organization (WHO) Bangladesh is carrying out a large-scale Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and Health Sector partners to break the transmission of persistent scabies upsurge among Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Running from November 29th, 2023, to February 01, 2024, this initiative strives to target nearly 1 million individuals residing in 33 camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char Island, marking it as the world's most extensive MDA campaign for scabies treatment and prevention.
MDA is a crucial public health intervention where medicines are provided to large populations for disease prevention or control. The preferred treatment for scabies in MDA is the Ivermectin 3mg tablet and Permethrin 5% cream for contraindicated cases. The MDA treatment will be expanded to reach a broad population, addressing varying needs based on medical considerations.
The initiative was sparked by the heightened susceptibility of Rohingya refugees to scabies, as revealed by a WHO prevalence survey of May 2023. The survey indicated a prevalence rate of 39%, surpassing the crucial 10% WHO threshold necessitating MDA.
Facing initial funding gaps, WHO recommended the initiation of a cost-effective multi-sector response by the Health and WASH Sectors. While these efforts, including case identification and hygiene measures, partially reduced infestation in most camps, persistent transmission in some areas and increased health facility caseloads underscored the necessity for a sustained community-level strategy.
Scaling up Ivermectin-based MDA
WHO aimed to provide therapeutics for over 992,500 Rohingya, including 5.2 million Ivermectin tablets and 185,000 tubes of Permethrin cream. MAP International made a significant donation of 3.2 million Ivermectin tablets in July 2023. WHO's global channels initiated the procurement of 2 million Ivermectin tablets and 138,726 Permethrin cream tubes to address potential shortages.
WHO conducted extensive training, preparing around 100 healthcare workers to oversee the MDA process. Additionally, 130 Community Health Worker Supervisors and over 1,600 Community UNHCR-led Health Workers were trained to administer the MDA treatment using the Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) strategy.
To enhance coordination, WHO formed the MDA Implementation Advisory Committee involving the Health and WASH Sectors to oversee implementation and finalise the micro-plan for MDA. Additionally, 68 storage sites, comprising 48 health facilities, were selected to securely manage, store, and distribute the drugs ahead of the campaign.
Roll out of MDA Campaign
The campaign was officially launched on November 29th, 2023, in Nayapara Camp. Dr David Otieno, leading the Epidemiology team at WHO, emphasised MDA as a proven strategy acknowledging scabies as endemic, and anticipating a significant reduction through post-MDA surveys. "WHO recommends MDA as a proven strategy to stop the spread of Preventive Chemotherapy for Neglected Tropical Diseases such as Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis and scabies when it is implemented with the highest coverage targets," says Dr David.