CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Rabies, often contracted from dogs, remains to be a major health problem in this province.
This was reflected in the state-of-the-province address of Gov. Lilia Pineda who revealed that her administration attended to 3,186 cases of rabies, the number being second only to 3,500 major surgeries in the list of health services sponsored by the provincial government for indigent patients.
Pineda said that health services have always been her priority since she got into politics 25 years ago, initially as mayor of Lubao town.
Statistics said some 3,000 cases of rabies are reported in this province yearly, with unvaccinated dogs and cats being the most common sources of infection.
Department of Agriculture veterinarians have estimated that 300 to 600 Filipinos die of rabies every year and at least 50 percent of the victims are children aged five to 14.
Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija are among the 10 provinces with the most number of animal rabies, according to the DA.
In Pampanga, the incidence rate of rabies for Pampanga is about 27.52 per 100,000 population.
The Pampanga Provincial Health Office has urged local folk to seek immediate post-exposure treatment after an incident or exposure to rabies.
There are two-government-owned Animal Bite Treatment Centers in Pampanga – one at the Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital in the City of San Fernando, and the other at the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Guagua town.
Meanwhile, Pineda also cited the allocation of some P59 million for the rehabilitation of hospitals, including purchases of machines and other equipment, in various parts of Pampanga.
She made special mention of the newly established Head and Injury Unit at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital, headed by Dr. Jay Rivera.
“There is no more need to go to Metro Manila for hospitalization because many illnesses can be treated right in our own hospitals,” she said.
In the area of education, the governor said that some 1,400 students now enjoy scholarships including P2.6M worth of allowances for them each year.
In infrastructure, Pineda thanked Public Works and Highways Sec. Rogelio Singson for approving some P25 million for the cut- off channel which would lessen flood threat in the city of San Fernando and the towns of Mexico, Arayat and Sta. Ana.
She also reported that some 64 bunkhouses have been constructed for the families displaced by landslide in Arayat during typhoon Ondoy last year.
