Pamintuan noted the report from the City Health Office-Animal Bite Treatment Center (CHO-ABTC) submitted to him in connection with the observance of the Rabies Awareness Month dubbed “Rabis Iwasan! Kapag Nakagat, Magpabakuna.”
“I would like to congratulate all the government employees who have been working for the success of our anti-rabies program,” said Pamintuan. “But there is still more work to be done. We should always be on guard against any resurgence of rabies in our city.”
He said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has regarded rabies, usually contracted from bites of infected dogs, as a viral disease occurring in more than 150 countries and territories including the Philippines.
In the Philippines, rabies is still considered a public health concern with more than 1,000 Filipinos seeking medical treatment in 2015. The illness also accounts for at least 200 deaths per year, the Department of Health said.
CHO-ABTC rabies coordinator Evelinda Mariano said this city’s Animal Bite Treatment Center caters to an average of 100 animal bite patients per day.
“Aside from this, the City Veterinary Office (CVO) conducts a year-round anti-rabies vaccine shots on animals such as cats, dogs, swine and cattle. A door-to-door review is implemented by the CVO to the animals present in a household and gives appropriate vaccination,” she added.
Mariano also stressed that free anti- rabies shots are available at local veterinary clinic.
She also noted that the city government has already earmarked P 3 million for the construction of a new animal bite treatment hub within the city hall grounds.
