Around 5,000 pre-school aged children in Day Care and other child development centers in the island-province underwent simultaneous deworming Friday morning.
The Department of Health, with the Province of Guimaras held the ceremonial launching of mass deworming at Inday Leah Child Development Center in Barangay San Miguel here.
A total of 53 Day Care pupils were given a bottle of chocolate flavor mebendazole suspension (Antiox). Private partner, Johnson and Johnson Philippines, Inc. donated a total of 5,000 bottles of Antiox in support of the project.
Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, Medical Soil Helminthiasis coordinator of DOH in Region 6, said soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections is common among children, particularly PSAC. But even children in elementary and high school, and adults can get infections, too, she said.
The national government has been addressing the public health concern over the years through War on Worms campaign, particularly through the Garantisadong Pambata program.
Garantisadong Pambata program aims to control STH infections through a biennial deworming of PSAC, she said.
Te said the most common type of worms found in kids is ascaris, or roundworms.
Te told parents that control of STH infections does not end with deworming.
"You have to couple deworming with good sanitation habits like washing of hands before eating or after defecating," she said.
She also told the public to keep surroundings clean, and to start training or teaching children good sanitation practices at an early age.
Governor Samuel T. Gumarin lauded the initiative. He took pride that the public health campaign is piloted in Guimaras.
Vice-Governor John Edward Gando assured the governor of budget for the province's health programs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., former Department of Health undersecretary, warned against open defecation as it can contaminate water sources.
He said one of the ways to address STH infections is to get to its root cause, which includes contaminated water source.
He is optimistic that with the successful turnout of CDC-based deworming for PSAC in Guimaras, it could guide policy makers on how to successfully replicate it in other provinces nationwide.
The CDC-based deworming for PSAC is implemented in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, University of the Philippines Manila and Johnson and Johnson Philippines.
CDC is a captive environment where children can be simultaneously dewormed.
Last July 5, some 200 Early Childhood Care and Development Workers (ECCD) in the province were trained on War on Worms implementation.
The ECCD training was part of the capability-building initiatives of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. The training taught the ECCD how to administer the deworming medicine. The social workers can help rural health midwifes in the implementation of the project.
According to World Health Organization, STH infections are caused by different species of parasitic worms that are transmited by eggs present in human feces, which contaminates the soil in areas where sanitation is poor.
Globally, around two billion people are infected with STH. Children infected are physically, nutritionally and cognitively impaired, it said.
Also present at the ceremonial launching were DOH-6 assistant regional director, Dr. Paz Corrales, Jordan Mayor Ruben Corpuz, Guimaras Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Cathrel Nava, Board Member Josephine dela Cruz, and San Migel Barangay Captain, Ruperto Malcon, among others. (PNA)
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