PHILIPPINES
The Bohol Rabies Prevention and Eradication Program (BRPEP) is a three year project. The first major project specifically aimed at utilizing a ‘One medicine' approach to prevent and control rabies in the Philippines. The project is being supported through a cooperative effort between the Alliance, the Bohol Provincial Government and a Private Swiss Foundation. The project should encourage other islands in the Philippines and other nations suffering under the burden of canine rabies to increase their financial support of rabies prevention and control.
Efforts for the eradication of rabies disease in the province by year 2010 go on with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian in the forefront. With program mechanisms in placed, this second year implementation was geared towards a self-directed mobilization of communities.
Although the year 2008 posed bigger and tougher challenges for implementers, the program has gained momentum and reached significant achievements as reflected hereunder per component.
Component 1. Social Mobilization
Bantay Rabies sa Barangay (BRB)
BRB are community-based volunteers composed mostly of barangay officials whose main responsibility is to translate and execute the rabies program at the frontlines according to established implementing guidelines and the provisions of the existing national and provincial laws.
To date, 1,094 BRB's were established and operating in the 1,094 barangays of the province.
Para-legal trainings
Para-legal training was aimed towards capacitating BRBs on how to implement the Rabies Control Program. Discussions were focused on the localized version of RA 9482 to include prosecution mechanics and requisites.
This year, 11 sessions were conducted in 11 municipalities attended by 1,116 participants composed mostly of barangay officials.
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An orientation-seminar with school principals was conducted on March 10 at JJ's Seafoods by DepEd regarding integration of rabies module in the elementary curriculum. First implemented in Bicol, the adoption of this program in Bohol for elementary students was based on the premise that children are best medium to adopt the concept of responsible pet ownership at the households.
This year, piloting was made in Corella Central Elementary School using the manual prepared by DepEd and DOH.
Component2. Communication Management
Rabies Film Showing
Forty-one (41) rabies film showings were conducted with 6,977 viewers composed of barangay officials, school children, parents, housewives, retirees, Tanods, BHW, probationers, BALA, and MRPEC members in the municipalities of Balilihan, Maribojoc, Loon, Tubigon, Clarin, Danao, Anda, Loboc, Guindulman, and Sevilla.
Distribution of Information Materials
This year, 8,000 pieces of information materials of different types including leaflets, posters, book marks and copies of the National Rabies Law were distributed.
Information campaign
Exhibits regarding rabies that include pictorials and related information were displayed at Holy Name University on February 13 in time for its Jubilee Year celebration. This activity was a concerted effort between the Offices of the Provincial Veterinarian and the City Veterinarian of Tagbilaran City. Additional services offered during this affair included dog vaccination, rabies film showing, distribution of information materials and a pet show.
A short orientation was also conducted during the Bohol Day Care Worker's Day on June 26 at the JJ's Seafoods, while an information caravan was conducted in 10 barangays of Panglao, spearheaded by the Municipal LGU together with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
A Rabies Control Program orientation-briefing was conducted during the Barangay Council Congress held at the Bohol Tropics Resort, Tagbilaran City a day prior to the synchronized barangay assembly on October 18, participating was 3,000 barangay officials. Focus was given on aspects of how to make a barangay rabies-free. Briefing kits were provided as reference in the discussion in addition to other rabies-related information materials for distribution to their barangay constituents during the assembly.
World Rabies Day Celebration
The observance of Rabies Day worldwide was aimed at raising global awareness and resources to enhance the prevention and control of rabies. Bohol's version of celebrating this day was highlighted by candle lighting ceremonies and offering of prayers for the dead victims of rabies. This was held simultaneously in elementary schools provincewide on Sept. 26 and was made possible through the issuance of a directive from the Provincial Governor to DepEd-Bohol.
In Tagbilaran, representatives from the City Veterinarian's Office (CVO), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), DA-RFU 7 specifically Quarantine Office, PitBull Club, the Media and the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) worked hand-in-hand to conduct orientation, film showing and open forum with school children in 5 city public schools right after the candle lighting ceremonies.
• City Central School
• Manga Elem. School
• City East Elem. School
• Dampas Elem. School
• Mansasa Elem. School
• Cogon East Elem. School
Component 3. Dog Vaccination
A total of 44,516 dogs were vaccinated in the 1, 074 barangays covering the period August 2007 to July 2008. In the second round of vaccination (August-December 2008) records show a total of 13,973 dogs vaccinated in the 433 barangays of the province. Vaccination activities were spearheaded by the Municipal Agricultural Offices and supervised by the OPV while facilitating the allocation of vaccines.
Component 4. Dog Population Control
Dog Registration
One of the sustainability mechanisms employed by the program is the collection of dog registration fee which shall entitle a dog to anti-rabies vaccination, a dog card and tag. This system was started Aug. 2007 and continues up to the present and was undertaken at the barangay level through the Bantay Rabies sa Barangay. Some municipalities did registration during pre-vaccination period while others opted to do it simultaneously during vaccination. The following rate and schedule is being observed:
Male dog - One hundred Pesos (P100.00)
Female dog - Fifty Pesos (P50.00)
Male dog neutered - Fifty Pesos (P50.00)
Sharing scheme from registration fees is observed in the following manner:
30% for the barangay LGUs;
20% for the municipal LGUs; and
50% for the provincial government
Records from the Provincial Accountant's Office (PACCO) as of December 2008, revealed a total remittances of P569, 298.20, representing the Provincial Government's share from the registration fee collection. This amount has been deposited as trust fund at the Provincial Treasurer's Office (PTO) and used as a revolving fund to re-purchase dog cards and tags for the succeeding vaccination round. Only the City of Tagbilaran is implementing registration of dogs which is not in accordance to the provisions of the Provincial Ordinance.
Alis Itlog
Neutering and castration is one strategy that helps reduce dog population. Operations are sometimes performed by livestock technicians at the municipal level or by the Office Veterinarians on a per request basis. This year, 11 "Alis Itlog" operations were conducted in 7 municipalities accommodating 199 dogs and serving 146 dog owners.
Operation of Dog Pounds
Initially, dog pounds become optional at this time as its establishment and operation is highly dependent on the priority and availability of funds of the municipal LGUs concerned. This year, only nine (9) municipalities started to operate dog pounds.
Humane Dog Population Control
The mode of elimination adopted in the municipalities was based on AWA guidelines. As of this reporting period, a total of 2,672 dogs and 40 cats were humanely disposed in 230 barangays covering 27 municipalities. Disposal was conducted through the BRB's and spearheaded by the municipal LGUs with the support of the OPV. This year, the Office hired 3 trained and skilled dog catchers to provide services for this purpose.
Briefing-orientation and Training
Designated Task Force members of municipal and barangay LGU's assigned to conduct dog elimination were given orientation by representatives of this Office. This assures proper execution and application of elimination and disposal procedures.
Training on "Humane Dog Population Control and Dog Head Sample Collection" was also conducted by the Office on December 9 -10 at Galilea Learning Center, barangay Looc, Panglao. This was attended by 36 technicians and facilitated by office veterinarians and the Regional Rabies Coordinator, Dr. Rachel Cadeliña. The experiential sharing of Dr. Christy Murray, a representative from the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC) on their efforts to eradicate rabies in Texas, USA provided very good input to the participants. Primarily, the training was aimed at enhancing the technical skills of program implementers and/or municipal counterparts to carry-out dog population control in their respective areas of coverage.
Component 5.Management of Bite Victims
Pre-exposures
High-risk personnel involved in the implementation of the program were given free pre-exposures with the assistance of DOH and Provincial Health Office. These personnel are composed of BALA's, Livestock Technicians and Veterinarians. Out of the 160 pre-exposed personnel this year, 139 were given booster level while 21 are new.
Bite Treatment Centers
The operation of the 3 new bite centers of Loon, Jagna and Talibon in addition to the existing clinics in Carmen and Tagbilaran City has given the much needed assistance in terms of medical guidance and vaccine requirements for bite victims. It must be remembered that these clinics started to operate in 2007 being managed by a private company with the close monitoring by PHO's District Physicians.
Component 6. Monitoring & Evaluation
The Bohol Rabies Prevention and Eradication Council (BRPEC) have conducted four meetings this year to review/assess accomplishments and address issues and concerns of the program. Presiding the last session in Sept. was the Provincial Governor, as Chair of the Council. Sessions were conducted on the following dates:
a) Feb. 25 b) June 13
c) Aug. 7 d) Sept. 10
Operational Planning
An operational planning (in 2 batches) was conducted last March 25-26 participated by Livestock Technicians and Municipal Agricultural Officers provincewide to provide direction and set the program activities for 2008. This also served as an area for reviewing achievements, experiential sharing and providing resolutions to identified problems in the field.
Disease Incidence Investigation and Surveillance
This year (2008), 5 human rabies cases were reported in the following municipalities:
a) Inabanga - 1 c) Getafe - 2
b) Ubay - 1 d) Sevilla - 1
Representatives from the offices of the Provincial Veterinarian and Provincial Health conducted field investigation and validated reported rabies cases. Results revealed that these 5 cases were proven to be positive.
On the other hand, 3 dog head samples were submitted to DA-RFU 7 for rabies confirmation. All of these samples were found to be negative. Sampling was limited only to suspected cases.
The project is delighted to announce that so far in 2009, no human rabies cases have been reported in Bohol.
An updated report for 2009 is being prepared and will be available here shortly.
