The “Rabies Prevention and Control Program for the Municipality of Malay including Boracay Island Resort” was launched during the celebration of the “World Rabies Day” on September 8, 2007, held in Malay, Aklan.
The project is a partnership among the Municipality of Malay; Aklan State University–School of Veterinary Medicine, Extension and Community Services; Aklan Provincial Government–Office of the Provincial Veterinarian and Provincial Health Office, Department of Education-District of Malay, Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Unit 6; and the Department of Health–Center for Health Development-Western Visayas.
The different activities done during the launching program were the massive anti-rabies vaccination, castration of dogs and film showing. The World Rabies Day was highlighted with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement among partner agencies.
According to Dr. Anna Mae C. Relingo, Director of ASU-ECS, the Memorandum of Agreement came out after a series of consultations with the local government units and partner-agencies.
Hon. Ceciron S. Cawaling, Mayor of Malay expressed in his message the support of the Municipal Government of Malay to the program extended by the partner-agencies. He stressed the importance in making Malay not only a tourist-friendly destination but also a rabies-free municipality.
Director Larry P. Nacionales, Regional Executive Director of DA-RFU 6 was represented by Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations. According to Engr. Recoter, “the DA-RFU 6 is committed to its responsibilities as stipulated in the agreement”.
Director Lydia S. Depra-Ramos, Regional Director of DOH-CHD Western Visayas was represented by Mrs. Zuela A. Calizo of DOH-CHDWV Aklan. The DOH is highly committed through the MOA in order to attain a rabies-free Malay and Boracay. Dir. Ramos has allocated 400 vials Rabisins exclusive for Malay, which can cover 4,000 dogs”, Calizo revealed.
Mr. Democrito Barrientos, Principal In-charge of the District of Malay, DepEd, pledged to integrate the program in its education curriculum, so that it could be internalized by the pupils.
Governor Carlito S. Marquez was represented by Dr. Maria J. Magpusao, Chief Technical Services Division, Provincial Health Office. According to Dr. Magpusao, “the Aklan Provincial Government is very much supportive to the rabies control program.” She emphasized that “the program is very timely because rabies death rate in Aklan in 2006 is 1.8 percent which is 0.8 higher than the standard death rate of less than 1 percent.
ASU President, Dr. Benny A. Palma informed the public that the University is waiting for the accreditation of its Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory. “The University will continue to improve its services for anti-rabies, likewise, the commitment of the University to the program.”
According to Dr. Molly L. Naigan, faculty member of ASU-SVM and project leader, the program is conceptualized for several reasons. First, rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting the nervous system of all warm-blooded animals primarily dogs and is transmitted to human beings through a bite of an affected animal. Second, the records of DOH’s National Rabies Prevention and Control Program show that most of the 113,379 animal bites in 2005 came from Western Visayas (Region 6) where Boracay Island belongs. In the Province of Aklan, the Provincial Health Office reported three human deaths in 2006 and for the current year, three cases of human deaths were attributed to rabies as of May 2007.
Dr. Naigan said that “the project aims primarily to prevent the incidence of rabies in the area and when rabies case is recorded, it could be promptly controlled and eradicated.”
The project is a five-year plan designed to make the municipality of Malay and Boracay Island a rabies-free community. It is intended to protect the local populace and tourists from deadly rabies diseases resulting from rabid dog bites,” Naigan pointed out.
The components of the program are the enactment and implementation of local laws on dog control, organizing rabies control coordinating committee (municipal and barangay levels), campaign on responsible pet ownership, capability enhancement of animal and health workers, vaccination of all healthy dogs and cats, campaign on dog control measures and rabies surveillance system. It will be implemented in partnership with the local, provincial, regional, and national government agencies.
The collaborative effort is to integrate scarce financial and technical resources from different government agencies in order to achieve a common goal. To make the project efficient and effective as well as sustainable, it will be institutionalized in the municipal and barangay levels. (ASU-ECS) /MP
The project is a partnership among the Municipality of Malay; Aklan State University–School of Veterinary Medicine, Extension and Community Services; Aklan Provincial Government–Office of the Provincial Veterinarian and Provincial Health Office, Department of Education-District of Malay, Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Unit 6; and the Department of Health–Center for Health Development-Western Visayas.
The different activities done during the launching program were the massive anti-rabies vaccination, castration of dogs and film showing. The World Rabies Day was highlighted with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement among partner agencies.
According to Dr. Anna Mae C. Relingo, Director of ASU-ECS, the Memorandum of Agreement came out after a series of consultations with the local government units and partner-agencies.
Hon. Ceciron S. Cawaling, Mayor of Malay expressed in his message the support of the Municipal Government of Malay to the program extended by the partner-agencies. He stressed the importance in making Malay not only a tourist-friendly destination but also a rabies-free municipality.
Director Larry P. Nacionales, Regional Executive Director of DA-RFU 6 was represented by Engr. Remelyn R. Recoter, OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations. According to Engr. Recoter, “the DA-RFU 6 is committed to its responsibilities as stipulated in the agreement”.
Director Lydia S. Depra-Ramos, Regional Director of DOH-CHD Western Visayas was represented by Mrs. Zuela A. Calizo of DOH-CHDWV Aklan. The DOH is highly committed through the MOA in order to attain a rabies-free Malay and Boracay. Dir. Ramos has allocated 400 vials Rabisins exclusive for Malay, which can cover 4,000 dogs”, Calizo revealed.
Mr. Democrito Barrientos, Principal In-charge of the District of Malay, DepEd, pledged to integrate the program in its education curriculum, so that it could be internalized by the pupils.
Governor Carlito S. Marquez was represented by Dr. Maria J. Magpusao, Chief Technical Services Division, Provincial Health Office. According to Dr. Magpusao, “the Aklan Provincial Government is very much supportive to the rabies control program.” She emphasized that “the program is very timely because rabies death rate in Aklan in 2006 is 1.8 percent which is 0.8 higher than the standard death rate of less than 1 percent.
ASU President, Dr. Benny A. Palma informed the public that the University is waiting for the accreditation of its Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory. “The University will continue to improve its services for anti-rabies, likewise, the commitment of the University to the program.”
According to Dr. Molly L. Naigan, faculty member of ASU-SVM and project leader, the program is conceptualized for several reasons. First, rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting the nervous system of all warm-blooded animals primarily dogs and is transmitted to human beings through a bite of an affected animal. Second, the records of DOH’s National Rabies Prevention and Control Program show that most of the 113,379 animal bites in 2005 came from Western Visayas (Region 6) where Boracay Island belongs. In the Province of Aklan, the Provincial Health Office reported three human deaths in 2006 and for the current year, three cases of human deaths were attributed to rabies as of May 2007.
Dr. Naigan said that “the project aims primarily to prevent the incidence of rabies in the area and when rabies case is recorded, it could be promptly controlled and eradicated.”
The project is a five-year plan designed to make the municipality of Malay and Boracay Island a rabies-free community. It is intended to protect the local populace and tourists from deadly rabies diseases resulting from rabid dog bites,” Naigan pointed out.
The components of the program are the enactment and implementation of local laws on dog control, organizing rabies control coordinating committee (municipal and barangay levels), campaign on responsible pet ownership, capability enhancement of animal and health workers, vaccination of all healthy dogs and cats, campaign on dog control measures and rabies surveillance system. It will be implemented in partnership with the local, provincial, regional, and national government agencies.
The collaborative effort is to integrate scarce financial and technical resources from different government agencies in order to achieve a common goal. To make the project efficient and effective as well as sustainable, it will be institutionalized in the municipal and barangay levels. (ASU-ECS) /MP
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