ILOILO – Sicogon Island – touted to be the province’s newest tourism destination – will soon be declared free from rabies.
This island off Carles town was under pre-evaluation by the Provincial Rabies Control Committee from July 4 to 6 for it to be officially declared rabies-free on Sept. 28, 2023 during the World Rabies Day. The committee is composed of personnel from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and Provincial Health Office (PHO).
“Inugpa-declare naton ang whole island sang Sicogon (as rabies-free)…,” Tabuada told Panay News yesterday.
Sicogon Island is composed of three barangays: Alipata, Buaya and San Fernando. It hosts a long stretch of white-sand beaches, clear and turquoise waters and scenic seascapes.
Tabuada said the pre-evaluation assesses an area if it satisfies the criteria set by the Regional Technical Working Group to be declared rabies-free.
One of the criteria for declaring an area rabies-free is that there must be no rabies cases for the last three years.
“No indigenous human and canine rabies case for the past two years, amo na ang pinaka-guideline sina, negative surveillance report,” added Tabuada.
Here are the criteria that Sicogon Island should comply to be declared rabies-free:
* having at least 70 percent of dog population vaccinated for the past two years
* creating and implementing local ordinance on prevention and control of rabies
* presence of effective rabies control committee
* having operative and adequate surveillance system
* establishing a mechanism to ensure the availability of human and animal anti-rabies vaccines, implementing health education and advocacy
* integrating rabies program curriculum in elementary schools
* celebrating Rabies Awareness Month and World Rabies Day
Once all are complied with, the Provincial Rabies Control Committee will forward their documents to the Regional Technical Working Group for double checking.
The Regional Technical Working Group is composed of the Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, Department of Agriculture, and other concerned government agencies.
And if it passes, Tabuada said Sicogon Island will be officially declared rabies-free on Sept. 28.
This would also mean that the three barangays of Sicogon would receive a P50,000 cash incentive each and another P50,000 each to help them sustain the rabies-free status.
For the part of the provincial government, Tabuada said they would award a certificate of recognition to the island’s three barangays.
Why are islands prioritized for rabies-free status?
A rabies-free status is easier to achieve in island barangays than in mainland barangays since they are naturally bordered by sea waters that dogs cannot easily cross, according to Tabuada. “Buot hambalon nga mahapos naton sia i-sustain nga rabies-free unlike sa mainland naton nga kon ara sia sa mainland bisan diin ang entries and exit so mahapos ang contamination,” Tabuada added.
Sicogon’s adjacent island barangay, Isla De Cana, is also scheduled for pre-evaluation by the PVO and PHO teams.
At present, five island barangays and two islands in Iloilo are rabies-free. These are barangays Granada, Asluman, Gabi and Lantangan, and Balbagon and Bantique islands in Carles town; and Barangay Nasidman in Ajuy.
Meanwhile, in its bid to be a rabies-free province by 2030, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. allotted P8 million for 20,150 vials of vaccines distributed to 42 towns and Passi City this year.
It could cover 70 percent of the total dog population in the province or 215,000 heads of the 307,578 total population.
As of June 21, through the collaboration of the PVO, Municipal Agriculture Office, and barangay vaccinators, 193,743 heads out of 303,498 dog population in the province were vaccinated, which is equivalent to 64 percent.
Nineteen municipalities reached and/or exceeded the 70 percent target. These were Santa Barbara, Dingle, San Enrique, Pavia, Tubungan, Oton, Cabatuan, Anilao, Batad, Guimbal, Leon, Miag-ao, Carles, Mina, Balasan, Calinog, Leganes, San Miguel, and Ajuy.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease (communicable from animals to humans) mostly transmitted through an animal bite.
In case one is bitten, the injured area should be thoroughly washed with soap and clean water then apply betadine to stop the bleeding, the PHO said.
People should also go to animal bite centers for proper treatment instead of seeking the help of quack doctors./PN
