KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The Office of the Provincial Health Officer in South Cotbaato is urging parents, guardians, schools, and local communities to actively support the nationwide deworming activities being conducted across the region this July.
Health authorities reiterated that regular deworming remains a safe, effective, and proven public health strategy to protect Filipino children against soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) or intestinal worm infections.
Eldon Serame, Health Education Promotion Officer, emphasized the necessity of mass drug administration among young learners, noting that children are particularly vulnerable to intestinal parasites due to frequent contact with contaminated soil.
“Leaving worm infections untreated can severely compromise a child’s development,” Serame explained. “It can lead to poor nutrition, anemia, stunted physical growth, and delayed learning—ultimately affecting their attendance and performance in school.”
Addressing safety concerns and unverified online reports, the Department of Health issued an advisory to assure the public that the primary deworming medicine used in the program—Albendazole—has been a cornerstone of the country’s public health initiatives for nearly three decades and is fully recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The advisory released in the official facebook page of the Integrated Provincial Health Office clarified that while the medication is well-tolerated and safe for the vast majority, minor reactions can occasionally occur as the body responds to the treatment.
“Some children may experience mild and temporary side effects such as minor stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or skin rashes shortly after taking the tablet,” the advisory said.
The official statement stressed that these reactions are expected in a few cases, usually appear within the first few hours, and can easily be managed with proper medical guidance from local health personnel.
The DOH advises parents and guardians to ensure their children have taken a light meal before taking the deworming pill and to rely only on official health advisories for accurate information regarding the program.
Local health centers and barangay health workers across South Cotabato are actively facilitating both school-based and community-based distribution throughout the month of July.
