15/08/2026
School-Based Deworming: Promoting Healthy and Ready-to-Learn Learners at NCCESSC
NEW CORELLA, DAVAO DEL NORTE โ August 14, 2026. Health and education partners joined hands to promote the health and well-being of learners during the School-Based Deworming Program held at New Corella Central Elementary School SPED Center (NCCESSC).
The activity is a health program of the Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), providing deworming tablets to learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Albendazole, an anti-parasitic medicine, was administered to eligible learners with the guidance and supervision of Nurse Maregine Atabelo, the school nurse, together with Ana Marie O. Comidoy, RN, the Barangay Health Nurse of Poblacion, and the health team from the Barangay Health Station and BHW.
Before the activity, class advisers helped ensure its smooth implementation by preparing the masterlist of learners and facilitating the distribution and retrieval of parentsโ consent forms. Thse preparations helped health workers identify learners who were eligible to participate in the deworming activity.
Adding nourishment to the health initiative, the Barangay Poblacion Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) provided warm and nutritious arroz caldo for the learners. The food assistance helped ensure that the children had something to eat before taking the deworming tablet, while also making the health activity more comfortable and child-friendly.
The collaborative effort demonstrated that keeping learners healthy goes beyond the classroom. Through the partnership of DOH, DepEd, barangay health workers, school personnel, parents, and the SK, school-based health programs can help protect children from intestinal parasitic infections and support their ability to learn, grow, and participate actively in school.
More than simply taking a tablet, the deworming activity highlighted the importance of prevention, proper nutrition, community cooperation, and health education in building a healthier school community.
At NCCESSC, the message was clear: healthy learners are better prepared to learnโand a healthy school is built through collective care and action.