By
Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - A total
of 512,130 or 81.28 of school children in Region 9 have benefited from the
National School Deworming Day conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) on
January 27 this year.
This was disclosed by Ms. Maria
Raiza C. Anino of DOH-9 during the media forum held at Mibang Hotel, this city
recently.
According to Anino, 512,130 of the
targeted 630,074 Kinder to Grade 6 school children in public schools in the Zamboanga
Peninsula were given “anti-bulate” medication during its implementation of the
program this year.
Of this number, 133,133 were from
Zamboanga del Sur;Pagadian City-26,647;
Zamboanga Sibugay-100,410; Zamboanga City-69,058; Isabela City-15,268;
Zamboanga del Norte-140,201; Dapitan City-12,286 and Dipolog City -18,127.
The month-long deworming activity, done
every January and July aims to improve
the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to 85 percent coverage of target
population and decrease soil transmitted helminthiasis cases which causes
weakness, decreased appetite, decreased
IQ and anemia.
Anino admitted that the observance of the Holy Month
of Ramadhan which lasted until the early part of July somewhat affected the
implementation of the program, however, according to her, she noted positive
development after the celebration.
She likewise cautioned the parents not to over-react
on the possible effect of the medicine to the child, as it is just normal.
Anino reminded all concerned to ensure that the
deworming is only administered to a child with full stomach. She assured that
Albendazole is safe and not expired as alleged. It has been recommended by the
World Health Organization due to its widest range of curative activity and
proven effective against all kinds of worms. It is safe and easy to administer
by a non-health worker.
DOH-9, in its 2015 NSDD Accomplishment Report
stated that only 460,418 children or 65.92% of its 698,429 target were treated.
Apart from being far from its target, it has also registered an adverse effect
report of 6,235 cases.
Anino attributed the high number of adverse
effects recorded in Zamboanga del Nortedue to lack of information campaign on
the conduct of the deworming activity- that it should only be given to a child
with full stomach and the abdominal pain is just but a normal reaction.