Aklan targets rabies-free province in 2020, embarks on massive rabies prevention and control program

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Aklan is aiming to reduce the incidence of rabies every year and eventually declare the province rabies-free by year 2020.

To achieve this target, the Provincial Rabies Control Committee is conducting a rabies prevention and control program through information education campaign, walk-in clinics offering vaccination, free consultation and veterinary services and rabies vaccination of dogs.

The Provincial Rabies Control Committee comprising of  Provincial Health Office (PHO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and other key government agencies also target the integration of rabies program in schools in Aklan.

The multi-agency information education campaign will further focus on tri-media campaign, printing and reproduction of leaflets and pamphlets, trainings and seminar and the annual dog show, which help the people aware of the dangers of rabies and how it could be prevented and controlled.

Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Cornelio Cuachon disclosed that in 2013 there were 3,608 cases of animal bites in Aklan or roughly 10 cases of animal bites daily while no rabies deaths were cited last year and in 2012.

But in February alone this year, two cases of rabies-related deaths were reported in the towns of Kalibo and Madalag. 

PHO-Aklan recently convened the Provincial Rabies Control Committee along with other government agencies to discuss its programs and plans this year and the activities for the month-long celebration of Rabies Awareness, which is held every March to raise awareness about rabies.

According to Department of Health (DoH), rabies is a human infection that occurs after a transdermal bite or scratch by an infected animal, like dogs and cats. 

Rabies can be transmitted when infectious material, usually saliva, comes into direct contact with a victim’s fresh skin lesions.