PIA Press Release
Saturday, January 07, 2012 Deworming of 700,000 EV school children ongoing, DepEd saysTACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan. 7 (PIA) –- The Department of Education (DepEd) in Eastern Visayas is now implementing the first round of deworming of about 700,000 Grades 1-6 school children in the region.Dr. Elsa Nastor-Gerona, DepEd Regional Health Officer, said that the distribution of medicines for deworming to the various public schools has already started. The tablets are given to the class advisers who will make sure that the pupils will take the tablets in the same. She said that the giving of deworming tablet to public school children from Grades 1 to 6 is conducted twice a year. The first round is in January and the second round is in the month of July. The giving of deworming tablets to school children is part of the Expanded Garantisadong Pambata program of the Aquino Administration, Dr. Gerona said. Director Gonzaga said this is part of the Expanded Garantisadong Pambata Program of the Aquino Administration which was launched in the Region in March of 2011. The newly designed Garantisadong Pambata program has expanded to providing service and information on health, nutrition, and environment for newborn babies up to 14 years old children. This essential health package, Gerona said, includes the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for six months; providing routine immunization among infants; giving vitamin A supplement and de-worming tablet every six months; education on proper hand washing with soap and water; brushing of teeth regularly; using the toilet properly; and keeping homes tobacco smoke-free. The GP program targets 100% of children aged 1-5 years old and those aged 6-12 years old enrolled in public elementary schools to receive de-worming tablets every six months to reduce prevalence of parasitism in these aged groups. (PIA 8) | 
