WHO picks Guimaras as pilot area for worm eradication in Asia

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

JORDAN, Guimaras - The World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen the province of Guimaras as pilot area for its worm eradication in Asia under the war on worms program.

Guimaras Governor Felipe Hilan Nava said the war on worms has two approaches: One is worm infection control and the other one is eradication.

Guimaras was piloted for worm eradication using the approach dubbed as Guimaras soil-transmitted helminthiasis elimination initiative. Once successful, it will be replicated in Asia, he said.

The program will be officially launched on Friday with close to 14, 000 elementary pupils and secondary students in public and private schools all over the province to be subjected to mass drug administration.

Also highlighting the launching is the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the provincial government and agencies involved in the program.

The program is also being supported by the Department of Education, UP Manila-National Institute of Health, Johnson and Johnson, Philippine Nurses Association and the Guimaras Chamber of Commerce.

Meantime, Nava said that he had no idea as to the basis for choosing of Guimaras since the province probably does not have the highest cases of children with intestinal worm infection compared with other localities.

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