The Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital in Hinoba-an started on Feb. 5 its first civic engagement activity for 2025 under the outreach program called “Beyond Hospital Walls: Empowering the Community through Health Education and Promotion”.
The civic activity, dubbed “Let’s Do the W.O.R.M.S.”, has been inspired by the January National Deworming Month observance and was held in keeping with the thrust of the Department of Health focused on essential preventive measures to combat soil-transmitted helminthiasis, or the infestation with parasitic worms.
“The activity was held as part of our on-going commitment to promote healthier communities,” said Dr. Ma. Lalaine Teorima, chief of the hospital.
It was spearheaded by the hospital’s Health Education and Promotion Unit.
Dr. Teorima and the HEPU personnel conducted a lecture on Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Awareness for the pupils of the Child Development Center at Zone 4 in Barangay Bacuyangan.
The discussion was focused on the Department of Health’s ‘Let’s Do WORMS’ campaign, which includes the following essential preventive measures:
✅ W – Wash hands
✅ O – Observe proper use of toilets
✅ R – Reduce exposure to unwashed, uncooked, and undercooked foods
✅ M – Mass deworming
✅ S – Wear slippers/shoes
A highlight of the activity was the distribution of slippers to the schoolchildren.
“Through the distribution of slippers, we wanted to reinforce the importance of wearing proper footwear to prevent parasitic infections,” Dr. Teorima said.
The ETDMH team also included proper waste segregation into the activity by promoting environmental conservation and healthy community practices through best solid waste management methods.
The initiative, the chief of hospital reiterated, marks a significant step toward creating healthier communities, by ensuring that children grow up safe from the harmful effects of soil-transmitted helminths.
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Michelle Martorillas, ETDMH child development worker, on behalf of the pupils and their parents, expressed her gratitude for the valuable health teachings shared by the ETDMH staff.
She said she also plans to implement the ‘W.O.R.M.S.’ campaign and proper waste segregation at the learning center, homes of pupils and the community. Encouraged by the response, the hospital chief said: “Together, let’s take action for a better health for our communities! Together let’s do the W.O.R.M.S!” | AVDC
