DOH Boosts Anti-rabies Program In 480 Animal Bite Treatment Centers Nationwide — Sec. Garin

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday it is boosting the anti-rabies program starting this year by providing full course of post- exposure prophylaxis or PEP (eight doses) of anti-rabies vaccines in 480 Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) nationwide.

PEP, also called post-exposure prevention, is any preventive medical treatment started immediately after exposure to a pathogen, such as a disease-causing virus, in order to prevent infection by the pathogen and the development of disease.

“Starting this year, sa katas ng ‘Sin tax’ and, of course, as part of the Aquino Health Agenda (under the Universal Health Care Program or Kalusugang Pangkalahatan), magiging libre na po ang anti-rabies vaccines,” DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin said.

She explained that the program is part of the intensified goal of the government to eliminate human rabies causes in the country so that no individuals will be dying due to rabies.

“Kung dati-rati, dalawa, tapos apat ang libre (in the eight doses) at ‘yung iba ay binabayaran ng pasyente, minsan dahil mahirap, nangungutang para pambayad, kasi yung may-ari ng nakakagat na aso ay walang pambayad at ang aso ay illegal naman, ngayon maa-avail na nila in full doses,” Garin said.

Rabies is zoonosis or any disease or infection which usually occurs after the bite or scratch by an infected animal. It is considered a neglected disease that is 100% fatal but 100% preventable.

In the Philippines, rabies is considered as a significant public health problem because it is responsible for the death of at least 200 Filipinos annually.

Secretary Garin recalled that in 2015, a total of 432,458 animal bite cases were recorded by the DOH with 226 reported deaths due to rabies.

“None of these deaths should have occurred since we have the necessary interventions to prevent rabies such as promotion of responsible pet ownership, early consultation when bitten by animals and timely administration of vaccines,” the Health Chief said.

To date, as part of the rabies elimination campaign, a total of 33 provinces and areas have been declared “rabies-free” by the DOH and the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI).

“Kung ikaw ay nakagat ng alagang hayop o hindi, huwag natin itong ipagsawalang-bahala. Magpakonsulta agad sa pinakamalapit na ABTCs upang malapatan ng tamang lunas. Maging responsible tayo sa ating sarili at sa ating alagang hayop,” Secretary Garin stressed. (PNA) SCS/LSJ