19/01/2026
January is Deworming Month
๐๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ : ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐
According to the World Health Organization (2023), soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common infections worldwide, affecting an estimated 1.5 billion people, about 24 percent of the global population. This disease affects the poorest communities especially in tropical and subtropical areas, particularly those with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
STH infections are transmitted through contaminated soil and water. This mode of transmission makes children aged 1 to 12 years especially vulnerable, as they often play on the ground and may put their hands or fingers in their mouths without washing them. Poor hygiene practices contribute significantly to the spread of intestinal worms. These include open defecation, eating without washing hands, consuming contaminated food or water, and walking barefoot on infected soil. Worms can enter the body through the mouth via dirty hands or improperly washed food, or through the skin, particularly when walking barefoot on contaminated ground.
In the Philippines, intestinal worm infection remains a serious public health concern, particularly among children. These infections significantly compromise a childโs nutritional status, leading to nutrient deficiencies, weakness, fatigue, impaired physical and mental development, and poor performance in school and daily activities (DepEd, 2018).
To address this, the WHO recommends periodic medicinal treatment, also known as deworming. The goal of regular treatment is to reduce and keep infection intensity low, thereby protecting at-risk populations, especially children, from morbidity.
Deworming is a proven, effective, and affordable strategy for preventing and controlling STH infections. It involves the administration of anthelmintic drugs that kill parasitic worms or inhibit their growth and reproduction. These medications are safe, effective, affordable, and come in flavored, chewable tablets suitable for children. Deworming tablets work by paralyzing the worms, eventually leading to their death. These medicines are safe for all children aged one year and above and require only a single dose regardless of body weight.
In the Philippines, mass deworming for children aged 1 to 12 years is conducted twice a year. The Mass Deworming Program, also known as the Integrated Helminth Control Program (IHCP), is a key initiative of the Philippine government to control STH infections. Guided by WHO recommendations, the program integrates Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions. The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), implements the National Deworming Month every January and July.
According to DOH Administrative Order No. 2010-0023, Guidelines on Deworming Drug Administration and Management of Adverse events following Deworming (AEFD), preschool children aged 1 to 5 years, deworming is carried out during the nationwide Garantisadong Pambata (GP) campaign every April and October. Schoolchildren, on the other hand, are dewormed every January and July in accordance with Administrative Order No. 2006-0028. School-based deworming is conducted in schools, while some preschool age children, out-of-school youth, pregnant and lactating women, and other special groups receive deworming services at Rural Health Units or Municipal Health Centers (DepEd, 2018).
How to Prevent Worm Infection?
โ Deworm twice a year. Regular deworming kills worms and prevents the spread of worm eggs that cause reinfection.
โ Avoid open defecation. Open defecation contaminates soil and water with worm eggs, which can be carried by flies and spread to food.
โ Wear slippers or shoes. Some worms, such as hookworms, can enter the body directly through the skin.
โ Wash hands with soap. Always wash hands after using the toilet, after contact with soil, and before eating or preparing food.
โ Wash and cook vegetables thoroughly. Worm eggs can survive in soil for months and contaminate vegetables grown on the ground. Proper washing and cooking help eliminate these eggs.
Regular deworming plays a vital role in improving a childโs overall health and nutritional status. It is an important strategy in addressing stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, as it reduces parasite load and allows the body to better absorb and utilize nutrients from food. When combined with proper hygiene practices and improved sanitation, it becomes a powerful collective effort to protect children from intestinal worm infections, allowing them to grow healthier, stronger, and better equipped to reach their full potential.
(Project Development Officer I Candice Margarette Mongas / nnc_x@yahoo.com / 09631091098).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/sth/about/index.html
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Intestinal parasites. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/intestinal-parasites
Department of Education. (2018). TSA WinS booklet: Deworming. Retrieved fromhttps://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TSA-WinS-Booklet-Deworming-PRINT-20181031.pdf
Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute. (2018). Policy statement no. 20: Deworming may help prevent stunting. Retrieved fromhttps://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/images/sources/PolicyStatement/PS20.pdf
Supreme Court of the Philippines. (n.d.). [E-Library document]. Retrieved from https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/11/56054
World Health Organization. (2018). Deworming: Every girl and every woman has the right to be treated. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/02-02-2018-deworming-every-girl-and-every-woman-has-the-right-to-be-treated
World Health Organization. (2023). Deworming in children (ELENA interventions). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/deworming
World Health Organization. (2023). Soil-transmitted helminth infections. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/soil-transmitted-helminth-infections
