By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Health-Region VI (DOH-6) and the Department of Education (DepEd) will be expanding their school-based deworming program this year, hoping to provide treatment for more students.

DepEd-Bacolod division officer, Dr. Ma. Herna Belle Montinola, said there was a big drop in the number of students who received deworming treatment last year. While DOH-6 medical coordinator, Dr. Ma Jocelyn Te, said around 94 percent of students were provided deworming treatment in 2017, Montinola said they nearly reached 100 percent in the year prior.

It is believe the drop was attributed to the Dengvaxia issue.

In response, DOH-6 Family Health and Nutrition Cluster head Renilyn Reyes assured parents have nothing to fear regarding immunizations and deworming./DGB, WDJ