Pangasinan intensifies anti-rabies awareness campaign

DAGUPAN CITY - The  provincial-government has intensified its campaign against rabies in its bid to reduce the number of rabies cases in Pangasinan. 

Dr. Eric Perez, provincial veterinarian,  said vaccination of pets is scheduled all year-round and responsible pet ownership is encouraged.

Photo Credit:PIO Eastern Samar

Perez said Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act provides that all pet owners should have their dogs vaccinated and maintain a record of all the vaccination conducted on their dogs. 

In the Health Summit conducted in Lingayen town in October 2016, Pangasinan ranked first nationwide in the most number of human death caused by rabies numbering 16. This was again reported in a health summit held in Clark in January this year. 

Perez said the towns and cities  with the most number of rabies cases in Pangasinan include San Carlos City in District 3, San Fabian in District 4 and Urdaneta City in District 5.

Nurse Ruby Doria of the Provincial Health Office’s infectious diseases team said in 2016, most of the 16 people in Pangasinan who died of rabies  did not submit themselves to vaccination after they were bitten by dogs.

Doria lamented that even with the passage of RA 9842, the law has not been implemented strictly nor followed in the villages.

“Ipabakuna ang mga alagang aso, panatilihin sa bakuran at huwag hayaang gagala sa daan. Dapat din na iparehistro sila sa kinuukulan at bigyan ng malinis na pagkain. Ito ang dapat tuparin ng mga pet owners. “ Doria told the Philippine Information Agency.

This 2017, Doria said the Regional Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADL) located in Brgy. Tebag in Sta. Barbara town has made the examination for dogs suspected of disease, free. RADL used to charge P300 for examination.

Doria said PHO has intensified its information and education campaign  and has also requested the help of barangay health workers to have a master list of dogs in every household whenever they conduct house-to-house visits. 

In September  2016, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan passed a resolution calling for the full and strict implementation of the Anti-Rabies Act. (VHS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)