DOH probes Zambo deworming program

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has started investigating the deworming program that downed more than 3,000 children last week in the Zamblanga region, an official said yesterday.

Ruby Constantino, DOH-Region 9 assistant director, said they want to get an accurate report conducting an epidemiological surveillance.

Health Secretary Janet Garin sent a team from the Epidemiological Bureau led by Rio Magpantay to determine why the children were hospitalized after they took deworming tablet.

“The health secretary wanted to have a thorough investigation. We have to make sure we deliver the right messages,” Magpantay said.

The team, supported by the provincial and city epidemiological surveillance units, will check hospitals where the students were admitted.

Constantino said the team would also check the patients’ background to determine if their hospitalization was due to the deworming tablet.

She said the investigation would take time since the team has to examine the affected students. 

The official said at least 17 students – one from Zamboanga del Sur and 16 in Zamboanga Sibugay – remained in hospitals since Wednesday.

Constantino said 1,249 students were hospitalized in Zamboanga del Sur, 2,800 in Zamboanga del Norte and 17 in Zamboanga City.

She said they were still consolidating the records from Zamboanga Sibugay.