This year's National Safe Kids Week focuses not only on safety of children from common and preventable accidents but also from rampant but preventable diseases as worm infection.

Thus one of the highlights of the June 18 Launching Ceremonies at the Department of Health was the turn-ver of 17 million mebendazole tablets by Feed The Children Philippines (FTCP).

The donation to the DOH's Goodbye Bulate campaign is part of FTCPs mission to help protect disadvantaged Filipino Children.  The tablets will help in the drive to bring down worm infection among children.  From DOH's latest figures, the incidence of worm infection among Filipino children has reached alarming proportions.  Worst hit is Region 5 where nine of 10 children have been found at risk.  Left unchecked, worm infection can cause serious development and life issues among children.

The donation has an estimated street value of P51M (generic) to P510M (branded). It is FTCPs second to the national deworming campaign.  With the support of its head office in Oklahoma USA and FTCs global network in 16 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, it hopes to continue working with the DOH in promoting children's health through deworming.

In acknowledging FTCP's donation, Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III underscored how important it is for government, private sector and the general citizenry to join hands in addressing health and safety threats to our young.

FTCP has its headquarters in Cebu City.  It also has field offices in Bohol and Parañaque City.  Since its establishments in 1984, FTCP has worked hard in promoting a safe, happy, healthy, productive and meaningful life for needy Filipino children.  Apart from supplemental feeding, educational support, and livelihood and micr-enterprise, nutrition and health have consistently been major items in its agenda.