Davao health department holds deworming activity

DAVAO City launched on Wednesday, July 12, the 2017 National School Deworming Day (NSDM) at Bernardo D. Carpio National High School (BDCNHS) in Buhangin village, this city.

The NSDM, which was headed by the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao and City Health Office (CHO), aimed to deworm all five to 18 years old children enrolled in public schools since 2015.

At BDCNHS, CHO head doctor Josephine Villafuerte said all students of K to 12 program were mandated to join the deworming on Wednesday.

"We are targeting to cover all schools in the city before the end of July. However, we will continue it until August if we cannot make it by the end of July," Villafuerte said.

The NSDM, she said, includes giving every child deworming treatments like Albendazole after the feeding program and also teaching the students the proper washing of hands.

She also said all medicines distributed and used were certified by World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration.

"We are bringing deworming to our children in public schools because most of them are not dewormed by their parents. At least we have done something to help them have clean and parasitic-worm free tummies," Villafuerte said.

The CHO head added that children enrolled in private schools and children who are not enrolled in public schools may avail of the free deworming services at health centers, rural health units and barangay health stations. (BSC)