Saturday, August 18, 2007 LGUs advocate to procure anti-rabies vaccines By Joan L. Butalid
LOCAL government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental are urged to strengthen their anti-rabies programs by purchasing anti-rabies vaccines and putting “teeth” to anti-rabies ordinances.
Dr. Antonio B. Mutia, provincial veterinary officer, said his office keeps a stock of only 6,000 vaccine doses for the entire year. "This is only 10 percent of the target requirement in the province, because LGUs can purchase their own doses," he said.
The ideal supply of anti-rabies vaccines in Negros Oriental is around 68,000.
Dr. Mutia called on local chief executives to allocate funds for the purchase of anti-rabies vaccines for dog bite victims coming from their respective areas. "This should form part of the LGU's program already," he stressed.
Dr. Edgardo Barredo, provincial rabies coordinator of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, said the lack of sufficient anti-rabies vaccines has been a big problem in the province.
"We can't promise enough vaccine supply because of its high cost but we try our best to help the victims who go the Animal Bite Center at the IPHO," Barredo told the various municipal and city health and veterinary officers and local rabies coordinators during the Mid-Year Evaluation/Assessment of the rabies eradication program in the province.
Both Mutia and Barredo stressed that prevention and control is still the best.
"Pet owners should be responsible. The number of dogs to be raised should depend on one's capacity, just like responsible parenthood,” they said.
