Skip to main content

PGIN, PRCC eye national ‘rabies-free province’ declaration

By
A Laoag City Government worker vaccinating a dog at Brgy. Bengcag on July 14, 2015.  (Alaric A. Yanos)

Mizpah Grace G. Castro
PGIN-CMO

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Provincial Rabies Control Council (PRCC), in partnership with the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and international organization Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), has eradicated rabies cases for two years, and intends to file for a national “rabies-free province” declaration within this year.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and warm-blooded animals, with dogs being the most commonly involved. Early signs include fever and tingling at the bite site, usually followed by violent excitability, a fear of water, paralysis in some parts of the body, or loss of consciousness. Once symptoms appear, the disease is nearly fatal. They usually show one to three months after the bite.

A rabies free area refers to places with no confirmed human or animal rabies case or indigenously acquired infection by a lyssavirus at any time in the previous two years. Data presented during the PRCC Quarterly Meeting last February 15 show that from nearly 20 canine rabies cases in 2011, cases of both human and canine rabies in Ilocos Norte have been at zero standstill since 2014.

PRCC's efforts have included mass dog vaccination and registration, which at present has 58% coverage throughout the province with 36,745 dogs vaccinated and 63,815 dogs registered.

In July 2015, they held consultative meetings with public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to strengthen border control management regarding the transportation of animals. Dr. Sarah Jayme, GARC country director, shared that the selling of dog meat or live dogs to be used for food is now penalized by up to Php100,000.

An upcoming strategy is early childhood intervention (ECI) which has been piloted in daycare centers around Ilocos Norte in partnership with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). It is set for official implementation until March.

According to Dr. Jayme, some Metro Manila schools have also decided to come up with similar programs after observing its introduction to the province.

In the works is a search for Best Implementers on Rabies and Control Program to be conducted among Ilocos Norte local government units (LGUs). Evaluation is set to be done by August 2016 with awarding tentatively scheduled for September 28, World Rabies Day.

'Stray animals threaten tourist safety, close monitoring needed'
However, while rabies cases are down, PVO remains concerned by the number of stray or loose dogs wandering around certain tourist spots in Ilocos Norte, posing a health and safety hazard to visitors and locals alike. They enlisted the help of 565 Bantay Rabies sa Barangay Volunteers (BRBV) in 2015 for widespread monitoring of such cases.

Presently, there are 1,063 recruited BBRV in the province, with 173 in Badoc, Burgos, Dingras, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Pinili, and Solsona trained as vaccinators.

In a meeting last year with Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, GARC, and their sponsorship partner UBS Optimus Foundation, Marcos had suggested the creation of a barangay primer to ensure that even after changes in leadership, barangay officials will be equipped with sufficient knowledge on how to handle animal bite cases and loose pets among their constituents. The primer is due to be outlined and drafted by next month.

Regarding everyday prevention of animal bites, Dr. Jayme advises residents to care for their pets properly and ensure that they are kept from stressful situations such as exposure to hot daytime temperatures or confinement to a leash or cage all day, which are also animal welfare issues.

She emphasized, "Ang precaution natin doon is for the dog to be fed properly and to be confined within a fenced area," reminding people to have their pets vaccinated at their nearest veterinary clinic and treat animals with "tender loving care."

For more information regarding rabies prevention and handling of animal bites, view the GARC website at http://www.rabiesalliance.org. You may also visit the Provincial Veterinary Office at Brgy. 2, Gomburza St., Laoag City, or contact them through (077) 772-1211.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

By
 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said.    Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured
Post a Comment
Read more

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By
By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua
9 comments
Read more

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

By
BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy.   18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi
Post a Comment
Read more