The National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Caraga continues to support the Department of Health (DOH) in its campaign on deworming among children ages one (1) year and older. The program aims to eliminate intestinal parasitism in children that can cause malnutrition.

Malnutrition is directly associated with insufficient dietary intake, with underlying factors such as a lack of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene resulting in recurrent infectious diseases such as diarrhea and intestinal worms that interfere with the digestive process by competing with the host for nutrients and compromising immunity.

Many studies have shown infections with intestinal parasites among children are associated with stunting, physical weakness, and low educational performance. According to a study by UNICEF, the Philippines has a "triple burden of malnutrition," meaning our country has 3 forms of existing malnutrition, one of which is a high prevalence of undernutrition, particularly in the form of stunting in 3.4 million children under 5 years old, and, secondly, micronutrient deficiencies, particularly those of vitamin A, iron, and iodine, which are crucial micronutrients for proper functioning of the body and the development of children.

Moreover, soil helminths that can cause intestinal worms or parasites in children can be preventable through the practice of proper sanitation and hygiene among children, including washing or sanitizing hands every after use of the comfort room and before eating meals.

Together with the NNC and DOH and its other partners, they conduct a continuous campaign to combat malnutrition through the National Deworming Month. The campaign is conducted twice a year, held during the months of January and July, in schools and communities. #JAOPortillas