LAGAWE, Ifugao (PIA)-- The Provincial Health Office encourages the public especially parents to get their children dewormed and practice proper hygiene and sanitation to keep them healthy.
Chery Faith Apangchan of the PHO explained that Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections (STH) commonly referred to as intestinal worms, continue to be a public health concern affecting children, expectant mothers, food handlers, farmers, and indigenous groups. Preschool children aged 2-4 years and school-aged children 5-18 years old are the most vulnerable to infection.
STH are parasitic infections from contaminated soil, food, or water which usually affect underprivileged communities with poor access to adequate water sanitation and hygiene.
STH can hinder physical and cognitive development especially in children which can result in malnutrition, frailty, and poor scholastic and physical progress. It also causes anemia in pregnant women and increases the chance that their unborn children will be underweight. This happens as a result of the worms feeding on the host's tissues, particularly the blood, which causes protein and iron loss, according to the National Nutrition Council.
Regular deworming proves to be helpful in avoiding the severe effects of worm infection, thus it is important to deworm twice a year, Apangchan stressed when she guested at the Hummangan with PIA radio program at Radyo Kiphodan 99.1 FM to promote National Deworming Month.
The Department of Health has tips on how to prevent STH through its WASH or Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for all campaign. Aside from deworming twice a year, do not defecate in the open to avoid the open spread of worm eggs into the soil, wear slippers or shoes to prevent hookworm infections, wash hands with soap and clean water, and wash vegetables and cook them thoroughly before eating.
National Deworming Month is observed every January and July with this year’s theme, "Makilahok sa Oplan Goodbye Bulate para maging Malusog, Masigla, at Matalino ang inyong mga Anak!"(JDP/FBR-PIA CAR, Ifugao)
