DOH kicks off campaign to deworm 700,000 learners in Eastern Visayas

DOH Assistant Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco (left) lead the ceremonial deworming to learners of Dita Elementary School in Julita, Leyte during the National Deworming Day kick off on Thursday. Witnessing the mass drug administration are Julita Mayor Irwin Dy (center), DepEd Nutritionist Elsa Gerona (right), and local government officials. (SQM)

JULITA, Leyte, Jan. 27 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas regional office has launched on Wednesday the school-based deworming activity in this town to ensure that 700,097 school children in the region are worm-free.

Officials from the DOH, Department of Education (DepEd), and local government units led the ceremonial deworming to 147 learners of Dita Elementary School.

DOH Assistant Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said 54 percent of children nationwide have intestinal parasites, which affects their physical and mental activities.

“All children enrolled in public elementary schools will be given candy-flavored, chewable deworming tablets to free them from soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH). We will do this twice a year,” Sydiongco said.

Elsa N. Gerona, head of the DepEd's regional health and nutrition unit, revealed that parasites living and breeding inside the intestines is the second most common health concern of elementary pupils, next to dental carries.

“We are thankful that the DOH launched this school-based deworming because DepEd has very limited resources. Our accomplishment has been very overwhelming.”

Julita, Leyte Mayor Irvin Dy said the deworming activity complements their local sanitation initiatives such as handwashing and construction of toilets in partnership with non-government organizations.

“We will always support health-related programs especially for children because this will have big impacts on their future,” Dy said.

The DOH congratulated its health workers in the region for ranking second in the coverage of National Deworming Day on July 2015 where 665,455 school children have received deworming drugs.

Of the 700,097 Grade 1 to Grade 6 learners targeted for the Jan. 27, 2016 National Deworming Day, 29,614 are in Biliran; 80,157 in Eastern Samar; 279,791 in Leyte; 112,166 in Northern Samar; 138,077 in Samar; and 60,292 in Southern Leyte.

The DOH has been informing teachers and parents on the normal symptoms after taking deworming drugs such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and dizziness. Only 14 children manifested these symptoms during the deworming campaign last year.

School-based deworming is the focus in the campaign, but the health department also integrates in some area their existing health programs for Garantisadong Pambata, STH, filariasis, and schistosomiasis to save government resources. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO