Governor Sally and Vice Governor Dodod Cadiao give recognition to Dr. Raffy Deray after his message. Dr. Deray is one of the invited guests in the media launching activity of the anti-rabies campaign in Antique, together with him is Dr. Victor  Atienza (not in the picture), Assistant Director of Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture.

San Jose, Antique – The said activity started last March 1 through a media launching at CAP Building with prominent guests from regional and national rabies prevention centers.

No less than Assistant Director of Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Victor Atienza and National Rabies Prevention and Control Medical Program Coordinator Dr. Raffy Deray were present to grace the occasion.

Dr. Atienza discussed the collaborative effort of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and World Health Organization in making the project possible. He also introduced the challenge of functionality of PRPCC and the Anti- Rabies Treatment Center (ABTC) because of the fact that “some of victim’s relatives find it difficult to look for a treatment center”, resulting to death.

Dr. Deray added that the project is being considered as the biggest funded project because the foundation funds 80% of the 70% dog vaccination in the Visayas. “There should be a full implementation of the project in all regions of the country because Antique will not be free from rabies unless its neighboring provinces will be free-rabies areas”, he said. He also shared their vision that by 2020 there will be a total elimination of rabies in the Philippines.

The program started with a message from the Governor Salvacion Z. Perez who announced that Antique is a “human rabies- free area” for three years. She also explained how the dog vaccination will be implemented in the province. Apparently, the efforts started from the national government and it will pass through the local government units preferably the Provincial Veterinarian Office and Provincial Health Office which will do the vaccination in the entire province.

 “There is a need for social mobilization”, said Dr. Bernie Tubianosa when he gave an overview on what should be done in Antique towards the total elimination of rabies cases in the province. There is a need to review local anti-rabies ordinances and reactivation of PRCC through a consultative meeting, he said.  He also declared that advocacy meetings were already conducted in 18 municipalities’ local government unit and Antique is ready for mass vaccination for this month.

The program ended through a signing of the Pledge of Commitment for a Rabies- Free Antique which enjoined the members of the Technical Working Group and officials from the different LGUs to affix their signatures as a sign of commitment and acceptance.