DOH eyes deworming of 15 M students this year

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) is targeting the deworming of some 15 million students in more than 38,600 public elementary schools this year.

Health Secretary Janette Garin said out-of-school youths and those enrolled in private schools could also avail themselves of free deworming services in barangay health centers and rural health units.

The DOH launched the National School Deworming Day in July last year to combat soil-transmitted helmianthiasis and schistosomiasis. At least 81 percent, or 11,824,013 of the students targeted for deworming have been covered.

Garin gave assurance that the deworming tablets used in the program are safe.

“All medicine are certified by the World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration,“ she said.

Garin said taking deworming drugs may lead to minimal side effects such as nausea, dizziness, headache and vomiting, which can be managed by resting for a few hours and drinking water with sugar.

“We appeal to the parents and guardians not to believe in wrong information circulated in social media...Let us verify our facts regarding deworming by consulting the nearest health facility,” she said.

Garin said the medicine is administered only with the consent of the parents or guardians of the students.