BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA
CEBU CITY, March 14 (PIA)--- Health
authorities sees the need for local government support in the implementation of
the Responsible Pet Ownership Law.
Department of Health
(DOH-7) regional director, Dr. Jaime Bernadas
said there is a need to strengthen advocacy campaigns on the Responsible
Pet Ownership Law at the municipal level.
“I admit we lack advocacy which is very
important in our campaign against rabies, that is why despite our lack of
manpower, we aim to visit these LGU’s, attend their assemblies and be visible
to them,” Bernadas said.
Rabies and TB Control Program
Coordinator, Dr. Jocelyn Tabotabo said the number
of reported cases in 2013 had increased to 50,755 from 34,678 cases in 2012.
There is an increasing trend as
observed from the figures made available in 2008- 17,387 cases; 2009-20,338
cases; 2010-26,298 cases and 2011-28,964 cases.
However Tabotabo said that despite the
rise of reported cases, there is an observed downward trend among deaths caused
by rabies.
In 2009 there were 12 deaths by rabies,
increased by one in 2010 then there were 10 deaths in 2011; seven deaths in
2012 and eventually only four deaths last year.
Tabotabo said on the 4th year of
implementing the “Rabies Free Visayas Project” they have not reached 70 percent
immunization coverage in the region.
However, Tabotabo said that the
increasing number of reported bite cases may also mean that the people are
already going to the Animal Bite Centers which are increasing in the region.
At the Animal Bite Centers, the
government shoulders two of the needed four doses of anti-rabies vaccine.
The health authorities also advised the
public not to resort to the popular quack treatment “tandok” as according to
Dr. Bernadas, “it does not have no scientific basis to cure rabies”.
Rabies incubation period they said is
between three to 57 days. “And for the record, there is
no official survivor of rabies,” Bernadas said.
Local government units are therefore enjoined to adopt a local
legislation implementing the Responsible Pet Ownership Law.
(mbcn/FCC/PIA7-Cebu)