Licealiz's "Kilusang Kontra Kuto" Spreads Awareness About Head Lice

Nagka-kuto ka na ba? As a child, I have had a number of encounters with head lice. I have also experienced being treated with supposed hacks to counter head lice. Ewan ko ba, may pediculicide shampoo naman siguro noon, pero bakit kung ano-ano ang nilalagay ng mga matatanda sa buhok ko! Haha!

Hmmm, let me count the ways...

... I remember my lola heat a spoonful of coconut oil with a candle then apply the warm oil on my scalp after. Buti hindi nalapnos ang ulo ko, LOL!
... A cousin of mine who was taking care of us when we were little would have me sit down on the floor while she watches TV and combs a Chinese comb suyod. Aray naman, the tangles! Take note, hindi pa uso ang conditioner noon. And if I don't sit down for a kutuhan session, she would threaten me that all the lice on my head will fly and carry me to Timbukthu!
..... My dad would use detergent to shampoo my hair then rinse it only after an hour.

Que horror, I know! These may sound shocking and silly but hey, more than three decades after, I'm still hearing these being done on children with head lice! This is why Lamoiyan Corporation's Licealiz head lice treatment shampoo, in partnership with the Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines (MCNAP) and supported by the UP Manila College of Public Health, formed the Kilusang Kontra Kuto to spread awareness about lice infestation issues and prevent and treat head lice.

I was fortunate enough to be part of the mommy blogger group that Lamoiyan Corporation brought along to their recent Kilusang Kontra Kuto activity at Bagong Nayon 1 Elementary School in Antipolo last September 8, 2016. There, I personally witnessed how the Licealiz team helped treat an entire school of their lice infesation problem. When we arrived at the school around mid-morning, they were already shampooing a class of gradeschoolers at their makeshift shampoo area.

While the shampooing continued, our group sat together with other school parents and guardians and listened to a quick orientation about head lice which included the myths and silly head lice treatments that Pinoys have grown accustomed with.

Here are some of the facts that I took note of:

• One (1) female kuto (head lice) can lay up to 100 eggs in their life time. These eggs will hatch in a week and it will just take another week for the same female kuto to lay another batch of eggs.
• 92% of head lice infestations are experienced by female, not because they have longer hair but because girls often tend to share combs and hair accessories. 
• 36% of kuto infestations are experienced by school-aged children because they are more exposed to other children who have head lice themselves.
• Head lice infestation is a cause of concern because scratching the head can result to infected wounds. My son's pedia once told me that any wound on the head should be treated immediately because it's closer to the brain.
• Head lice do not jump or fly! Hindi totoong kaya niya ilipad ang bata sa Timbukthu!
• You do not get head lice from staying under the sun.
• Short hair does not guarantee less head lice because head lice thrive on blood. As long as they can bite the scalp and suck blood, they will survive.
• Head lice do not recognize race/color, social status, gender, or age. Kahit sino, pwede magka-kuto!
• Using suyod (fine comb), removing head lice manually, or shampooing everyday would help if there are only few head lice. Shampooing with a pediculide like Licealiz is still the best option because of the rate head lice lay and hatch eggs. 
• When one member of the family is infected with head lice, the whole family should also be treated with pediculicide.
• Head lice infestation is also a social problem. Infected children get labeled and become subjects of teasing and bullying.

Pediculicide is the fastest and most convenient way of treating head lice infestation. Pyrethrin, the active ingredient of Licealiz, is chrysanthemum extract and in non-toxic and safe. Licealiz can even be safe for use on babies.

We left the school before noon and had lunch while being oriented with more information about our country's head lice infestation problem and the Kilusang Kontra Kuto program. This is where celebrity mom and reporter, Love Añover not only shared her silly childhood kuto stories but also related her experience when her very own daughter got infected.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arlene Bertuso, an entomologist and professor of UP Manila College of Public Health stated that 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. I felt relieved somehow that Lamoiyan Corporation launched this program to help reduce this problem. Finally, Ms. Balbina Borromeo, President of MCNAP advised that households should be kuto free through practicing simple activities like avoiding sharing combs, towels, and other materials that touch the hair. She also recommended changing beddings regularly.

September is Head Lice Prevention Month and Licealiz will continue arranging shampooing programs and activities for public school students all over the country and willill also be posting educational materials on head lice and how to fight them on its Facebook page, Licealiz also 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.

Licealiz is available in two variants. You may visit the Licealiz Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Licealiz, for more information on lice prevention.



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