Villagers strive for a worm-free Guimaras

GUIMARAS ISLAND -– A comprehensive program on deworming of school children in the island province of Guimaras was launched on Friday by the Department of Health (DOH), the schools, and local communities in the capital town of Jordan here.

The launching was graced by DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial for Visayas Area Cluster with representatives from the World Bank and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) attesting to the program of deworming schoolchildren.

Guimaras Governor Felipe Hilan Nava said the program is a must in the barangays and the schools for children to have a safe and healthy environment for their development.

A Guimaras School Division-wide simultaneous deworming activity was launched to signal the start of the program in the whole island.

Nava and University of the Philippines (UP)-Manila Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Vicente Belizario, who is also the executive director of the National Institute of Health, gave their messages instilling hygiene and sanitation of children to avoid worm contamination.

The DOH report showed that worms inside the human body cause diseases and will eventually kill a person.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by members of Guimaras Action Team composed of health and education officials in the island province and the provincial and municipal leaders.