[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Best implementers of anti-rabies program in WV lauded’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Sunday, March 18, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 recognized local government units (LGUs) across Western Visayas that have excellently implemented the rabies prevention and control program.
Hansel Didulo, DA assistant secretary for the Visayas, lauded the LGUs on Friday for their efforts in implementing the anti-rabies campaign.
Didulo said there have been around 200 to 300 human-rabies deaths recorded every year in the country, and one third of those are children.
He added that LGUs need to maximize their efforts in promoting the vaccination of animals to minimize the cases in line with the goal of having a rabies-free Philippines by 2020.
This year, the outstanding LGU implementers are the towns of Balete in Aklan, Buenavista in Guimaras, and Mina and Oton in Iloilo, and cities of San Carlos and Cadiz in Negros Occidental, Barangay Granada in Bacolod City, and Barangay Veteran’s Village in Iloilo City. They received plaques of recognition.
There were also LGUs that received certificates for sustaining their rabies-free status.
They include the towns Buenavista, Jordan, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia, and Sibunag in Guimaras and the barangays Botlog Sako, Macatunao, Taloto-an, and Tambaliza in Concepcion, Iloilo.
Nongovernment organizations were also recognized for their active support in the anti-rabies campaign of the government.
These are the Aklan Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Kalibo, Aklan, and the Responsible Dog Owners of Bacolod and the Community Animal Rescue Efforts, Inc. in Bacolod City.
Didulo said they are distributing 62,000 vials of rabies vaccines, sourced from the Bureau of Animal Industry, across the region this year.
He added that LGUs are expected to start dog vaccinations upon receiving the vaccines.
LGUs are also urged to hit the target of vaccinating 70 percent of their respective dog populations.
Western Visayas has registered over 490,000 dogs in 2017.
Didulo said LGUs must also strengthen their animal rabies surveillance system so they could identify rabid dogs and act on them.
Records from the Department of Health Region 6 showed that there are 14 people who died of rabies in the region last year, almost double the number of fatalities recorded in 2016.
The Health department also recorded a total of 100,840 animal bites in the region in 2017. (PNA/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
