Speaking to the press on January 10, the Department of Health (DOH) reassured parents that deworming tablets are safe for kids. They cautioned parents not to be misled by inaccurate information they come across social media.
The 'side effects' of misinformation
"We appeal to the parents and guardians not to believe in wrong information circulated in social media and in the community," urged Health Sec. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial at a press briefing, as reported by GMA News. "Let us verify our facts by consulting the nearest health facility regarding deworming."
Did mass deworming really lead to mass hospitalization in 2015?
As they head into their programs for National Deworming month, Sec. Ubial shared that they are aware that parents may have developed apprehensions after an incident in Zambaonga back in 2015, which allegedly caused the hospitalization of hundreds of children following a mass deworming program.
"When that incident was investigated in Zamboanga, there were some reports of abdominal pain, but it was not related to the intake of the deworming," said Ubial, clarifying that the similar stomach pain each student experienced was unrelated to the deworming. "But because of the news and spread of the news quickly on social media, it created a lot of panic and fear among all the children that was already given the deworming."
Ubial also added that the alarming report "increased the number of side-effects in that particular area" and that she hopes something like it won't happen again.
World Health Organization country representative Dr. Gundo Weiler encouraged parents to "fully support this campaign, make sure that your children participate in the campaign, and take the medication that is provided" so they can "put more chances for healthy development."
For National Deworming month, the DOH hopes to reach 19 million public school students and 23 million pre-school and out of school youths.
READ: Doctors shocked when girl’s appendicitis turned out to be worms
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