Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) has urged parents, guardians, schools, and communities to support its nationwide deworming campaign scheduled for July. The department emphasized the campaign's role as a secure and tested strategy to combat intestinal worms.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH highlighted the vulnerability of children to soil-transmitted helminths, commonly known as intestinal worms, due to their frequent interactions with contaminated soil. If left untreated, these infections can result in poor nutrition, anemia, stunted growth, delayed learning, and decreased resistance to other illnesses. Such conditions can adversely affect a child's school attendance and academic performance.

The deworming campaign involves the use of Albendazole, a medication recommended by the World Health Organization and a staple of the country's public health initiatives for nearly three decades. While the DOH assured the public of the medication's general safety and tolerability, it acknowledged the possibility of mild and temporary side effects in some children.

The expected reactions, including stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or skin rashes, typically manifest within the first few hours of administration and can be effectively managed with appropriate medical guidance. To ensure participant safety, the DOH has instructed local health workers and government units to follow established protocols during both school-based and community-based deworming activities. These protocols cover the safe administration of the medicine and the management of any adverse events.

Furthermore, the DOH has issued a caution against the dissemination of false information online, urging the public to rely solely on verified advisories from the health department. It warned that the spread of unverified reports or misleading claims could lead to unnecessary public anxiety and dissuade families from participating in this crucial health initiative.

On July 3, news reports mentioned the death of an 8-year-old learner due to a central nervous system infection. The pupil had received Albendazole as part of routine deworming at Hugo Perez Elementary School-Annex in Trece Martires City, Cavite, on July 2. The National Bureau of Investigation has announced an investigation into the pupil's death.