26/01/2026
๐ผ๐๐๐: ๐ผ๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐๐จ/๐๐๐๐จ/๐พ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ก๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
Public Advisory No. 2026-004 | January 26, 2025
The Department of Health โ Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOHโEV CHD) hereby informs all Local Government Units (LGUs), Provincial Health Offices (PHOs), City Health Offices (CHOs), and Rural Health Units (RHUs) on the scheduled conduct of the Harmonized Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) in January 2026.
In line with this activity, the following key points are reiterated for proper guidance and implementation:
๐ญ. ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐๐ด ๐๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป - The MDA for Schistosomiasis in endemic areas targets individuals five (5) to sixty-five (65) years old. The recommended dosage of Praziquantel is 40 mg/kg body weight, to be administered for one (1) day, divided into two (2) to three (3) doses at four (4), six (6), or eight (8)-hour intervals. Administration must be done after a full meal.
๐ฎ. ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ถ๐น-๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ (๐ฆ๐ง๐) ๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด โ Round 1 of deworming for STH covers individuals 1-19 years old. (Note: Round 2 of deworming is scheduled for July 2026)
- Albendazole: 200 mg (ยฝ tablet) for children older than one (1) year but below two (2) years old; 400 mg (1 tablet) for children two (2) to nineteen (19) years old
- Mebendazole (if used): 500 mg for individuals one (1) to nineteen (19) years old
Deworming is conducted every six (6) months, and drugs should be administered within two (2) hours after a meal.
๐ฏ. ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐- During the conduct of MDA and deworming activities, healthcare workers are enjoined to closely monitor patients before, during, and after drug administration and to manage any adverse events based on severity. Adverse drug reactions associated with Praziquantel and Albendazole are generally mild and can be managed through appropriate and simple interventions.
๐ฐ. For detailed guidance, implementers are advised to visit the link and refer to the following issuances: ๐ bit.ly/Memorandums-MassDrugAdministration.
For inquiries or further clarification, please contact doh.cdu@ro8.doh.gov.ph.
For information and guidance.
