DOH increases age limit for deworming program

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the thrust of the Department of Health to eliminate diseases caused by parasitic worms, the agency has increased the age limit of students who can avail of deworming services.

Dr. Van Phillip Baton of DOH-7 Communicable Diseases section, said that the agency has extended the age group for public school students who should undertake their deworming program to make sure that there are more productive young individuals in school.

Baton said the target age group for public elementary pupils was previously set from five to 12-years-old. This time, the maximum age limit has been adjusted to 18-years-old.

"We considered on increasing the age (limit) to mirror the K to 12 Program," said Baton, who is also the regional medical program coordinator for soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis control and elimination program.

Baton explained that being sickly may affect the child's performance in school, which health authorities want to prevent through deworming.

But DOH has clarified that the administration of medicines is voluntary and will only be given to pupils who have their parents or guardian's consent.

Further, apart from public school pupils, children who are not enrolled can also avail of the free deworming services in health centers, rural health units, and barangay health stations.

Prior to the age group adjustment, Baton said community-based deworming services were given to children from one to four-years-old. But this time, the agency decided to include out-of-school individuals ages five to 18-years-old.

"During these ages, children and young adults are developing and learning. With healthy community, we can develop intelligent and healthy young individuals so that they can achieve their full potential growth and development," he said.

The region-wide mass deworming activity will happen simultaneously in different schools and health facilities within the month of July. The activity is scheduled twice a year - July and January, both in schools and in the community.

The program is an initiative of DOH, which is a nationwide and simultaneous effort to deworm children and protect them from serious illnesses caused by soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis.

Helminthiasis is defined by World Health Organization as infestation with one or more intestinal parasitic worms while schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms.  (FREEMAN)