NSDD’s
success attributed to massive info dissemination, says DepEd official
By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN
CITY,
Jan. 28 (PIA) – Exactly seven (7) months after the first round of the National
School Deworming Day (NSDD) in all public elementary schools nationwide, the
second round was conducted on Wednesday to keep 16-M Filipino kids free from
parasites.
Medical Officer Dr.
Mirriam Indin, regional health coordinator of the Department of Education
(DepEd)-9 said the Department of Health’s (DOH) mass deworming dubbed “Oplan
Goobye Bulate” was successfully conducted in 1,169 public elementary schools in
the region.
Indin said there
were no reports on students experiencing nausea, vomiting and abdominal pains
after chewing or ingesting the deworming pill Albendazole.
It can be recalled
that on the first round of the NSDD on July 29, 2015, a report about the
supposed death of 10 children after the deworming in Dumingag, Zamboanga del
Sur had reached the office of Dr. Joshua Brillantes, chief of the local health
support division of DOH-Western Mindanao which caused mass hysteria. However, when health personnel checked and validated the report, it turned
out to be false information,” Brillantes was quoted as saying.
The report said only
complaints on vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness as common side effects of
Abendazole were reported to the DOH.
Meanwhile, Indin said the successful
conduct of the second round of NSDD was attributed to the active support of all
stakeholders—the municipal health officers, nurses, principals, teachers,
parents, barangays officials, and media.
Indin said prior to the
activity, the DOH and DepEd have intensified their information campaign within
six (6) months to make sure that all stakeholders will be properly oriented on
the effects of the deworming tablets and other vital information.
Indin said the DOH and
DepEd posted “Oplan Goobye Bulate” posters in all participating schools,
conducted massive advocacy campaign to head of schools and teachers, parents
and guardians, barangay officials.
“We tapped the services of
radio, TV, print and social media to air and print our public service
announcement, uploaded relevant information at DOH websites and Facebook, hung
posters in health centers, barangays, public markets, conducted press
conference/briefing, media placement, TV and radio guestings.
