Deadly crisis in the family

THE response of families to the reported shortage of human anti-rabies vaccine in the province and in the country is what will make the difference if the reported shortage will result in a deadly crisis or not.

The non-availability of human anti-rabies vaccine is like an accident waiting to happen because a Filipino household is rarely without an animal pet. The risk of being bitten even by a seemingly friendly dog or cat is always present because no one can really fully understand why animals react the way they do.  For decades, many pet owners feel they don’t find making their pets vaccinated because they are deemed friendly. That’s the most dangerous and risk-laden response.

One simple surprise bite by a friendly pet starts the time bomb ticking for the victim. The old practice of observing the wayward pet before deciding to see a doctor for the needed vaccine has proved fatal to many. But even this option is now removed with the shortage of the vaccine. If a family member gets bitten, one can only pray that the animal has been vaccinated or else death is certain.

The advice of government prodding pet owners to have their pets vaccinated is, indeed, the only protection that families can have. Liken this to responsible gun ownership. If one does not ensure that the gun is kept away safely from within reach of members of the family, the possibility of someone getting shot is high.

The buzzword for families in our barangays should therefore be the question: Have you given your pets the anti-rabies vaccine? That question and the response of the family will make that big difference whether it will be facing an unnecessary deadly crisis or not.

 

Decisive Duterte

PRESIDENT Duterte is proven correct with his decision to stop Filipinos from working as maids in Kuwait. This, after the employers-murderers of Joanna Demafelis were sentenced to death by hanging. The couple were tried in absentia as Nader Essam Assaf and wife, Mona, are under Syrian custody after their arrest and subsequent detention in February in Damascus, Syria. Kuwait’s swift rendering of judgment sends a strong signal:  The oil-rich gulf state wants President Duterte to soften up on his stance to stop deployment of Filipino househelp to Kuwait. He may yet do so as he had earlier set some conditions on the lifting of the ban, such as the non-confiscation by employers of the maid’s passport, proper feeding and enough rest, non-selling of maids to other employers and allowing them the use of cell phones.

Act decisively.  That’s leadership, Duterte style.

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