CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Education and League of Provinces has partnered with Fit for School, Inc., a non-government organization that promotes proper hygiene among children to counter high-impact childhood diseases in the Philippines.
The three parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the Essential Health Care Package in schools across the country.
EHCP, which is contained in a manual that will be provided to high schools and day care centers, stipulates the proper way of washing hands and brushing the teeth, as well as the proper way to de-worm children.
The manual uses the framework of “Focusing Resources on Effective School Health” or FRESH provided by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and World Bank.
DepEd and the league will find means to sustain funds to implement the program, considering that P25 is needed for each student to effectively carry out the health care package.
The specific objectives of the program are to reduce diarrhea incidence by 30 to 40 percent, reduce respiratory infections by 20 to 30 percent, reduce worm infections by 50 percent, reduce the increment of dental caries by 40 to 50 percent, reduce infections in the mouth by 50 percent, and increase school attendance by 20 percent.
Achieving these objectives is believed to improve a child’s academic performance.
The partner organizations believe that schools and day care centers are the appropriate avenues to promote health and behavioral change among children.
A recent survey revealed that diarrhea and respiratory tract infections are leading causes of death among children with 67 percent of children getting infected with intestinal worms and 97 percent getting infected with tooth decay. Because of these, up to 35 percent reportedly drop out of school, compared to children in the neighboring countries of the Philippines.
Because hygiene deficiency diseases are very common and are even considered “normal,” they have become socially accepted and therefore neglected.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the current health of Filipino children “is not as it should be” and that the program is a timely and highly efficient tool for DepEd to promote proper hygiene in elementary schools and day care centers across the country.
The program would also be a significant contribution towards fulfilling the country’s Millennium Development Goals. — Johanna T. Natavio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)