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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

DOH to conductNational School Deworming Day on Jan. 27
By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) --- The Department of Health is scheduled to conduct the second round of National School Deworming Day on January 27, 2016.

In a media forum held at Mibang Hotel, DOH IX Assistant Regional Director Joshua C. Brillantes appealed for the active participation of the local media in informing the public especially the parents and convince them to bring/accompany their children to school during the deworming day.

The forum was conducted to avoid what happened during the first round of the deworming activity last year that was filled with text scares which was pinpointed as the main reason for the low turn-out during the conduct of school-based immunization.

Dr. Brillantes clarified that the mode of taking albendazole in this year’s deworming activity is through oral not chewable as practiced last year and that it will be administered by the school teachers under the supervision of a health personnel from the DOH.

He pointed out that albendazole will only be taken two hours after the child has taken his/her meal or with a full stomach. However, it will not be given to   children whose parents did not give their consent.

Public school teachers all over the province were also given orientation on the conduct of the activity by DOH region 9 personnel.

The deworming activity became the priority of DOH after it was noted that a big number of schoolchildren are anemic. This is a strong manifestation of the presence of  worms in their body which, if left unattended may result to the early death of  the child.

To maximize awareness of the parents, ARD Brillantes urged local officials to hold barangay assembly and assured the availability of a representative from the DOH as resource speaker.

He also encouraged Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) to hold a meeting with its members and inform DOH for such undertaking to provide speakers for  appropriate information on the upcoming activity.

DOH personnel led by ARD Brillantes and Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Health Officer Dr.Eduardo Luayon also guested the recent “Kapihan sa Dipolog” held at Sunburst Fried Chicken, Hotel Camila I, this city for the same purpose.

The national deworming activity aims to implement and sustain coverage with chemotherapy of at least 85% of the target population.