LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 28 (PNA) -- Sorsogon has the highest incidence of Soil Transmitted Herminthalisis (STH) infections and six out of 10 elementary pupils suffer from the disease, Department of Health Bicol Regional Director Napoleon Arevalo said Thursday.
In this connection the National School Day of De-worming in Bicol was launched by Department of Health at the Bacolod Elementary School in Juban, Sorsogon on Wednesday in cooperation with the Department of Education regional office, parents organizations and the private sector.
Arevalo said anemia or malnutrition is the reason a student is poor in class.
He expressed belief that with the National School Day of Deworming, the cases pf STH will be minimized, if not totally eliminated.
The DOH official said that last year, the agency dewormed 76 percent of elementary students enrolled in public schools in Bicol.
Nationwide, he said, 70-80 percent or more than 11 million students of the 14 million target received treatment in line with the policy of the World Health Organization, Food and Drugs Program and DOH.
The program aims to lower the cases of STH in the regional and in the national level. (PNA) LAP/FGS/NIM/CBD