Department of Health continues deworming campaign in community, public and private schools. I am a public health nurse and we are conducting this throughout the municipality as well as others all over the country.  We address uncertainties and myths linked to deworming and against soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis.  The target age in the community is 1-4 years old and 5-18 years old who were not attending school.  In addition, all students enrolled in public and private elementary and high school must be given the deworming pill with signed parental consent.

Parental consent is the number one concern in different schools.  The parents and guardians still believe in incorrect and misguided information disseminated in social media and more or less around the community.  Since the administration of the medicines is voluntary, we will not give the deworming pill without the consent form filled up by the parent or guardian of the child in both public and private schools. In addition, this is not a new campaign of Department of Health. This can be done every year, in 6 months interval. The medicines used in each campaign have been certified by the World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration.  And yes, just like any other pill, taking this deworming pill may lead to side effects like vomiting, headache and dizziness.  But these effects can be simply managed and may disappear after quite some time.

By: Sharmaine A. Tolentino | RN | DOH Limay