Pangasinan steps up fight vs rabies
FOURTH District Board Member Jerry Agerico Rosario said the recent rise of rabies cases in Pangasinan is alarming, prompting him to initiate the conduct of a Question Hour in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on the status of rabies incidences in the province in aid of legislation to introduce remedial measures.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) recently revealed that there is 100 percent increase in rabies cases in Pangasinan in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023.
Meanwhile, Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, reported Pangasinan received more than 16,000 rabies vaccines from the DOH in 2023 while PHO’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit on rabies said rabies cases were 125% higher than in 2023 with nine deaths.
PHO set aside P1-million in emergency fund for the rabies prevention program adding that vaccines from the DOH are coursed through the PHO and distributed to the 12 accredited animal bite treatment centers in 20 towns.
Dr. Raquel Ogoy of the Provincial Hospital Management Services Office said the Provincial government allocated P16 million for the procurement of rabies vaccines while Dr. Arcely Robeniol, provincial veterinarian, said the vaccination drive already vaccinated over 144, 641 dogs in the first half of 2024.
Dr. Maria Rica Bautista of PhilHealth Regional office, said PhilHealth is offering a financial package of P3,900. for animal bite victims.
Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino said the bigger concern of the provincial board is the report that only 10,000 of the 40,000 to 50,000 animal bites cases in the province were treated by the provincial government-owned hospitals.
“Maybe they went to private hospitals or in other clinics,” he said. This is the matter the SP wants to address, he added as he lauded PhilHealth’s program.
“What we need is to stress in the information campaign that once bitten, the person should be brought to a medical facility that can administer medicines to fight the effects of rabies because the provincial government has the capacity (to address them) ”. (Eva Visperas)
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