No one is safe from headlice. I remember having it when I was a little girl — ang sarap kamutin, grabe! My aunt would put coconut oil in my hair, we would sit down outside, and she would laboriously pick the headlice and nits one by one. I hated it because it keeps me from happily playing outside.
Past forward many years later, I am now the one who makes sure my daughter is free from headlice! Thankfully, I didn’t have to pick the kuto one by one anymore because there’s Licealiz! I’ve been using it on my daughter and nieces’ hair since 2011. (Read: De-Lice-ing Three Little Heads)
So why are we talking about kuto suddenly? Well, September is Head Lice Prevention Month and because of that Lamoiyan Corporation, in partnership with the Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines (MCNAP) and supported by the UP Manila College of Public Health, has created a health education campaign designed to help communities all over the country address the problem of kuto.
They formed the Kilusang Kontra Kuto (or KKK) as an educational movement seeking to spread awareness about lice infestation issues and prevent and treat head lice.
This September, Licealiz has arranged shampooing programs and activities for public school students all over the country and will also be posting educational materials on head lice and how to fight them in its Facebook page.
I was very fortunate to be one of the mommies who were able to join the Kilusang Kontra Kuto activity at Bagong Nayon 1 Elementary School in Antipolo last September 8, 2016.
When we arrived, the Licealiz Team has already started the shampooing activity beginning with the gradeschoolers. They have three makeshift shampoo area where they shampoo three students at a time with Licealiz then use a suyod after to get rid of the dead lice. Other students are all lined up in the waiting area.
I was really glad that there’s such a program because it takes care of the whole school.
Can you imagine being a parent of a child with headlice? You shampoo her with Licealiz to get rid of the kuto but then again she goes to school everyday and come in contact with classmates who has kuto? I don’t think you’ll be able to get rid of it because she constantly comes in contact with other kids who has them.
This Nationwide Oplan Alis Kuto, not only includes shampooing of the kids but also a short seminar to parents and guardians about about head lice prevention and treatment.
We listened to activations ambassador Dr. Maria Michelle Vita, who travels with the Licealiz team and gives the lecture to parents of public school students.These are the things that I learned about kuto:
- Head lice cannot fly! It doesn’t jump either. Head Lice are easily transmitted through direct contact with an infested person or object.
- Head lice can live for up to 30 days in a human head and that female lice can lay up to 100 eggs in their lifetime.
- Head Lice cannot be acquired from staying under the sun.
- Everyone can get headlice regardless of age, gender, or status.
- The social stigma associated with having kuto can leave lasting psychological damage, as it has been found that kuto-infested children were subject to bullying and teasing, leading them to miss school for days at a time.
- Suyod alone cannot solve the problem of headlice, we need to use a medicated shampoo like Licealiz to treat the infestation.
- Licealiz is a safe, fragrant, and an easy and effective way to get rid of headlice.
- Licealiz is available in two variants: Original and Soothing Coolness.
Here’s an infographic on how to prevent getting headlice and how to use Licealiz:
Shortly afterwards our experience at Bagong Nayon 1 Elementary School, we headed to Quezon City where we met Dr. Arlene Bertuso, an entomologist and professor from the UP Manila College of Public Health, MCNAP President Balbina Borneo, and celebrity mom Love Añover to know more about the Kilusang Kontra Kuto Program and the headlice infestation in the country.
According to Dr. Bertuso, a study by the DepEd in 2009 estimated that 8 million public school students aged 7 to 12 years old* were infested with head lice. To help prevent the spread of head lice, experts like her recommend that parents regularly inspect their children’s hair, as well as the hair of everyone in the household. “Communities can start a regular program wherein school nurses or barangay health workers can diagnose people with head lice and advise them on proper head lice treatment and prevention. Head lice might not be deadly, but the social stigma associated with having them makes kuto infestation a public health problem worthy of concern,”
Meanwhile, MCNAP President Balbina Borneo advised, “We have to take action in keeping our households kuto free through simple activities like avoiding sharing of combs, towels and other materials that touch the hair, as lice spreads through physical contact with infested objects. We should regularly replace our beddings and pillowcases to avoid the transfer of lice.”
Celebrity mom Love Añover also shared her experience dealing with head lice and another effective solution she discovered to fight it – Licealiz head lice treatment shampoo.
“We were very careful with my daughter’s hygiene and surroundings, so I couldn’t believe it when she started scratching her head. Sure enough, we found head lice! We didn’t think it was possible for my daughter to get head lice given how young she was at the time, but eventually we found out that she got them from our household help. When I was a child, we only used suyod, which was quite inefficient in getting all the lice out. For my daughter, we wanted to try something clinically tested and proven in removing lice. We tried Licealiz head lice treatment shampoo and after two weeks of use, my child was lice-free!”
This Head Lice Prevention Month, Licealiz invites everyone to join the Kilusang Kontra Kuto in changing the public’s perception about kuto infestation and spreading correct information regarding head lice prevention and treatment.
Let’s keep our country Kuto-Free!
To know more about it and lice prevention, visit the Licealiz Facebook Page.
Check out this short teaser video. Kung nasolusyunan na ang Kuto Problem sa Bagong Nayon 1 Elementary School, Masolusyonan kaya ang problemang kumakalat sa barangay na ito? Alamin. #KilusangKontraKuto
And now…I introduce to you the Kilusang Kontra Kuto, ang inyong kaakibat sa pagsugpo ng mga kuto at lisa. Join the fight against head lice!
This is one of the common child disease, good thing hindi ko pa naexperience sa anak ko.
I remember those days when I have lices. It is so itchy. Good thing, they are gone when I live in the States. I am so glad that my kids do not have any of it. I have to make sure that they shampoo their hair and brush their hair often.
The way the kids position looks uncomfortable hehehe. It’s nice that they offer this Kutofree event.
I had the opportunity to try this product on my daughter when she had this problem when she was younger.
This is really a great campaign. A lot of kids suffer because of lice. At least now more people will know that they can rely on Licealiz to help them out.
I think, every kid (or most) go through this “kuto days” in their young lives. I remember my daughter having on and off lice infestation when she was in grade school. She said her seat mate had them and then she began scratching her head. Well, I don’t want to point fingers but the infestation didn’t last long. We used anti-lice shampoo to treat her head lice and had to cut her hair short for few years to keep the lice at bay.
It’s really nice that the school is organising activities like that to bring awareness on head-lice and how to prevent them from spreading.
This is a good prevention as those stubborn creepy little creature will attack fast if someone beside our kids have them. I’m delighted to know that there are awareness talk and events like that in Philippines. Good job to the organisers, sponsors and bloggers.
Love this movement, daming mga bagets makikinabang nito. Hopefull lahat na mga bata kuto free na. Thanks for sharing Sis
My daughter had to go through this. I was frustrating to see those infestations over and over again. I am glad there are innovative products to help us rid our kid of head lice.
I used to have lice when I was young. Sobrang kati at nakakainis talaga. Ayaw pang mawala. Another advise is to always use fine comb daily. or pag kumati, suyod agad.
Oh my!!! Wasn’t how bad is it about lice there? I mean, I have never heard about someone organizing campaign about it if it’s not that bad, but the lice shampoo indeed is very helpful especially the kind of weather we have the Phils. Glad they finally make something that would make lice come off easily and dies.
Nakakahiya man aminin but just the other day I found out my son has kurumad. Kaya pala wagas makakakamot ng ulo. I still don’t know where he got those lice. Kaya napabili ako ng usyod ng maagapan.