DOH urges Bicolanos to undergo deworming

The Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development in the Bicol region has urged the public, children, and adults alike, to undergo deworming and rid their bodies of parasites as the country observes the National Deworming Month this January.

The Health department in partnership with schools and local government units (LGUs) are distributing anti-helminthic drugs during the National Deworming Month (NDM), a twice a year campaign held during the months of January and July.

The NDM is done by synchronizing the schedules of Mass Drug Administration for Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) in the schools and the community.

NDM is being done because STH is a public health problem that has detrimental impact on children’s growth and development. STH can cause anemia, malnutrition, weakness, impaired physical and cognitive development resulting to poor growth and school performance in children.

The two components of NDM are National School-Deworming Month (NSDM) and Community Based Deworming Month (CBDM).

The World Health Organization (WHO) set the target that at least 75 percent deworming coverage should be attained but DOH has a higher target which is 85 percent. However, for July 2019, DOH CHD – Bicol was only able to reach 75 percent due to different factors.

As of July 2019, 75 percent or a total of 2,041,228 ages 1-19 year old were given Albendazole in the whole Bicol region; with a total of 716,846 dewormed at the community-based deworming, while 1,324,382 for the school-based deworming.

Sorsogon and Camarines Norte has the highest percentage of accomplishment in community and school-based deworming coverage with 93 percent; 79 percent in Masbate; Catanduanes and Albay with 71 percent; and Camarines Sur with 62 percent.

For this year’s campaign, DOH CHD - Bicol expects to deworm at least 85 percent of the target aged 1 to 19 years old.

DOH CHD – Bicol has asked for the support of the parents and guardians for the said endeavor. The success of the DOH campaign in deworming relies on the support and actions of the attached government agencies, non-government organizations, developmental partners and the local government units. With this unified effort, CHD Bicol believes that health for all will be achieved.