A Grade 4 pupil died following a deworming activity conducted at Hugo Perez Elementary School-Annex in Trece Martires City, Cavite, the Department of Education’s Schools Division Office of Cavite Province confirmed in an official statement.
In the statement, DepEd Cavite said its administration and the school’s faculty and staff were “deeply saddened” over the death of the pupil following the deworming activity carried out within school premises. The office said it was in constant coordination with the proper authorities regarding the incident and pledged that its officials, employees, and personnel would not shirk from their responsibilities should legal processes or inquiries follow.
According to the Philippine Star, the pupil was a Grade 4 male student who was allegedly given deworming medicine on July 2. He reportedly complained of a headache and began vomiting after taking it, later developing a fever and severe stomach pain. He was rushed to a hospital and died on July 3.
The child’s mother said the class adviser personally administered the deworming medicine to her son, PhilNews reported. She noted that in previous years, students were sent home with the medicine for parents to administer, and acknowledged signing a waiver allowing her child to take part in the school’s deworming activity.
Deworming activities are routinely conducted in Philippine public schools as part of national health programs targeting soil-transmitted intestinal parasites among school-age children. DepEd Calabarzon said the department remains committed to safeguarding “the health, life and limb of every learner,” and reiterated its willingness to cooperate with authorities investigating the incident.
