DOH-7 to Make CV ‘Rabies-Free Region’

The Department of Health Regional Office 7 (DOH-7) is aiming to make Central Visayas “a rabies-free region” by 2016.

But according to DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas that this could remain a dream if the community will not do its part.

He said that dogs are the most common rabies-carrier in the community, and its owners should be responsible in taking care of them.

Bernadas called some dog owners, who are adamant to their program, to cooperate with the government’s campaign to make Cebu province totally free from rabies. Bernadas observed that some dog owners are being negative on sending their dogs to a clinic for a free rabies vaccination.

Bernadas said that the government is spending millions of pesos to buy anti rabies medicines. “So with this campaign, the government aims to help both the dog bite victim and the owner of the dog owner, by giving them free rabies vaccines respectively”, he said.

Bernadas is also asking all the barangay officials to lead this anti-rabies campaign in their respective areas of jurisdiction by informing dog owners regarding the proper caring of their pets.

He explained that their efforts to protect people from rabies has gained a little percentage, based on their records. He said that from 2009 up to present, they have noted a slumping percentage of dog bite victims.

Based on the DOH-7 monitoring system, the year 2009 has the highest rate of 12 deaths due to rabies, 2011 had 11 deaths and in 2010, there were 10.

In 2012, there are seven deaths while in 2013, there are four.

As of February this year, there are no death on rabies, he said.

Bernadas said that their campaign is effective, and if dog owners will just cooperate with them religiously,“there is no doubt we’ll be successful on our target”, he said.