ILOILO – In just three months, this province recorded five human rabies deaths.
According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), these deaths between January to March 26 were from the towns of San Dionisio, Ajuy, Estancia, Calinog, and Sara.
Last year, the province logged seven human rabies deaths for the entire year.
The cases were from the municipalities of Carles with two, and one each from Tigbauan, Alimodian, Dueñas, Banate, and San Dionisio.
Most of the victims were unable to seek aid from designated animal bite centers, according to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, acting chief of PHO, and instead consulted manugtandok (traditional healers).
When bitten by a dog, Quiñon said, a patient must immediately wash the bitten area with soap and water then seek help from the animal bite center. This is for all cases, “either nabakunahan man or wala sang anti-rabies ang nakakagat nga ido.”
The provincial government had 19 designated animal bite centers located in its 12 district hospitals and Rural Health Units (RHUs) of Oton, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Pavia, Carles, and Zarraga.
“We have an abundant supply of vaccines, and these are free and available in our district hospitals and RHUs,” said Quiñon.
Moreover, the acting PHO head enjoined all Barangay Rabies Control Committees (BRCCs) to help mitigate cases of rabies.
The duties of the BRCC include:
* conduct and supervise dog immunization activities and dog control measures
* maintain an updated master list/registry of all dogs, both vaccinated and the unvaccinated dogs
* regularly conduct information, education and communication campaign on rabies prevention and control
* advocate the practice of responsible pet ownership
* strict enforcement of barangay ordinance relevant to rabies prevention and control
* monitor cases of animal bites in the barangay and refer to the RHU for proper immunization
* support the municipal activities on rabies prevention and control
With the observance of Rabies Awareness Month, Quiñon is encouraging everyone to become responsible pet owners.
Under Section 5 of Republic Act 9482, or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, all pet owners are required to:
* maintain a registration card which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their dog, for accurate record purposes
* submit their dogs for mandatory registration
* maintain control over their dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any public place without a leash
* provide dogs with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter
* within 24 hours, report immediately any dog biting incident to concerned officials for appropriate action, and place such dog under observation by a veterinarian
* assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries
Meanwhile, based on the record of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Iloilo province only had an 11.44 percent accomplishment on dog vaccination coverage last year. It revealed that some 30,007 were vaccinated.
In 2020, the province had a dog population of 262,214 and the PVO’s supposed target was to vaccinate some 183,550 dogs or at least 70 percent.
Last year’s figure was lower compared to the 23 percent recorded in 2019, in which 58,284 head of dogs were vaccinated out of 258,637 dog population.
According to Darel Tabuada, acting provincial veterinarian, the main reason of the low accomplishment was the dearth of vaccines.
“About 1,000 vials lang or equivalent to 10,000 dogs ang nahatag sang provincial government sa kada local government unit (LGUs),” Tabuada said.
The coronavirus pandemic has also been a contributing factor because of limited mobility, he noted.
To expand vaccine coverage, Tabuada said the provincial government procured 10,000 vials of canine rabies vaccines worth P4 million in December last year.
These can vaccinate 100,000 dogs, Tabuada added./PN
