The first initiative of the War on Worms (WoW) campaign focused on the exposition of helminth infections especially among Filipino children, effected a groundswell of interest among academic, medical and governmental institutions. Meanwhile, the second installment shifted its focus to the six out of 10 food handlers in Cebu and Manila found to be positive for intestinal helminthiasis and other parasitic infections. WoW II promoted the new DOH Administrative Order which defined a new set of stringent operational guidelines to be followed in screening food handlers the passage of which was as a result of research work and successful advocacy by the UP-NIH.

Now, in its third strike, the WoW-V! School-based Intestinal Helminth Control Project is envisioned to surpass the success of its predecessors as it signals the start of a nationwide effort. The project will give out 600,000 deworming Mebendazole tablets and will benefit around 300,000 schoolchildren in a span of two years.

‘Wormbuster’ Dr. Jun Belizario, one of the key stake holders of the WoW series says that WoW-V! has the main objective of reducing prevalence of intestinal helminth infection among school children to less than 50 percent and heavy intensity infection to almost zero in two years. It also aims improve school performance. "Upon attaining these objectives, we hope that WoW-V! will serve as a model for the rest of the Philippines and the developing world," said the ‘wormbuster’.

The WoW pioneer further noted that the three Visayan provinces are very fortunate to be beneficiaries of free deworming medicine. "Other provinces are not as privileged. Imagine for two years, children will be administered complimentary doses of Mebendazole, which is considered as one of the two most effective de-worming medications." For this feat, Dr. Belizario lauds the efforts of Johnson & Johnson and its local pharmaceutical division, Janssen Pharmaceutica.

Dr. Belizario is not the only one who salutes the initiatives of these two private corporations—even the country’s top health official, Secretary Francisco Duque recognizes them. "I extend gratitude to J&J and Janssen because we share the same value system of improving the health of our people," says the DOH Secretary.

"Insofar as the fight versus Helmianthiasis is concerned, DOH can’t do it alone, that’s why it’s important to support and nurture partnership. As illustrated by its third strike, the War on Worms campaign is one extremely successful example of a public-private partnership," ends Secretary Duque.