DOH launches Oplan: Goodbye Bulate
Photo credits: Department of Health
Legazpi City - The Department of Health (DOH) Region Office V in coordination with Department of Education (DepEd) launches the National Deworming Month dubbed “Oplan: Goodbye Bulate” for the whole month of July.
The program will be targeting ages 1 to 4 in the community and 5 to 18 years old students in public schools nationwide.
With this, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the deworming strategy. The STH infection is said to be scan cause poor physical growth, poor intellectual development in children and can further result to anemia and malnutrition.
In 2015, the National Parasite Survey revealed that the Bicol region has the highest Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) infection rate in the country with six out of ten children are prone to the infection.
“Deworming children is the safest way we can eliminate the burden of STH infections. We should remember that our health is in our own hands and prevention is better than cure”, Regional Director Dr. Napoleon L. Arevalo said.
RD Arevalo hopes that everyone will support the campaign. He also encouraged the public to keep children well-nourished and healthy.
To reduce the said cases, DOH distributes albedazole (400mg) which is proven and effective as recommended by WHO and inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for having few and minor side-effects.
DOH V will have the extent to build up this year’s campaign. The distribution process and posting of the DOH advisory beyond the reach of the students are also available and conceivable. It will also strengthen an intensified collaboration with DepEd where teachers were given proper orientation on the administration of the drug.
It is by then free of charge and readily provided by DOH. The parents are advised to coordinate with city health workers and school teachers for the process of deworming.
In January 27, 2016, the DOH Bicol released that 88% of the children from public schools and the different communities along the Bicol region undergone deworming. They are also expecting to have higher scale for the upcoming months.
