The Department of Health Region I held the Anti-Rabies Stakeholders’ Meeting on May 10 at Ariel & Fe Resort and Restaurant, with Bayambang’s barangay captains and barangay health councilors in attendance. The barangay officials are considered the main stakeholders in the anti-rabies drive being pursued by the capitol government because it is at the grassroots level that information is spread to the masses.

Pangasinan ranked number 1 in the number of rabies cases in the country in 2016, while the town of Bayambang recorded one fatality from Brgy. Telbang in January this year, prompting the vaccination of 90 people exposed to the victim and the rabid dog. According to RHU2’s Rural Health Physician Dr. Adrienne Estrada, about P100,000 worth of vaccines were given, and the patients were able to avail of them for free.

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Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini A. Sagarino greeted the attendees and facilitators on behalf of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao and thanked the organizers for holding such a much-needed activity.

Facilitating the meeting were Provincial Rabies Coordinator Ruby Doria, Provincial District Veterinarian Dr. Jerome Blanco, and Regional Development Management Officer Arlene Calugay, aided by RHU 1’s Municipal Health Officer Dr. Paz Vallo, Dr. Estrada, and members of the DOH’s Nurse Deployment Project.

On behalf of Municipal Agriculture Office OIC Artemio Buezon, Albert Lapurga tackled the latest figures on rabies infection in animals and anti-rabies vaccination in the municipality, while Dr. Blanco presented the figures on the provincial level. Doria spoke at length on the status of human rabies infection in Pangasinan, while Calugay discussed the regional status.

An open forum followed, plus a discussion of the next steps that needed to be taken. A declaration of agreement was then made by the barangay captains to do their part in stamping out rabies in Bayambang and helping erase Pangasinan from its number 1 ranking in rabies cases.

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A wealth of more interesting facts and figures can be gleaned from the meeting:

• One Filipino dies everyday due to rabies.
• The Philippines ranks 6^th in global rabies cases.
• In 2016, there were 35,906 cases in Pangasinan and 16 rabies-caused deaths reported.
• So far, there are 4 rabies-caused deaths in Pangasinan in 2017.
• In 2013, the number of cases in Region I drastically dropped, coinciding with the conduct of mass dog vaccination.
• Depending on the gravity of the case, in particular the area bitten, it takes 2-3 months and up to 2 years before rabies symptoms manifest.
• The rabies virus from a dog can be transferred through its saliva.
• Under the Animal Welfare Act, it is illegal to eat dog meat. A violator will be penalized with P125,000 if caught.
• There is a law called RA 9498, also known as Responsible Pet Ownership, which among other things, outlaws stray dogs.
• The following will not cure rabies: garlic, vinegar, green papaya, carabao horn, ‘tandok.’
• The aim is to declare a Rabies-Free Philippines by 2020.