CAMIGUIN (PIA)--In observance of the Rabies Awareness Month with the theme, “Rabies-Free na Pusa't Aso, Kaligtasan ng Pamilyang Pilipino,” the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (PROVET) of Camiguin has scheduled activities and programs that pet owners on the island can avail. 

During the ‘OK Doc!’ radio program, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Lordgin V. Gamo said PROVET will be doing a house-to-house mass rabies vaccination from March to April. He added that Camiguin is also strengthening its animal quarantine protocols to ensure the safety of both animals and humans on the island. 

“Ato gyud gipugngan nga naa'y makasulod nga warm-blooded pet animals [sa Camiguin] nga walay insaktong papeles, especially [mahitungod] sa bakuna sa rabies. Ato gyud nang gina-prevent nga masudlan ta diri og dili bakunado,” Gamo said. 

PROVET Rabies Program Coordinator Cindy Estanilla also promoted their office’s vaccination program for bite victims to prevent the rabies virus from causing further medical complications. 

“[Rabies] is a highly fatal disease but is 100% vaccine preventable. Gina-encourage gyud nato, if ever mapaakan gyud sila, nga humanon gyud nila [ang vaccination]. Dapat mahuman nila ang dose administered on day 0, 3, and 7,” Estanilla said. 

(Rabies is a highly fatal disease but is 100% vaccine preventable. We encourage bite victims to receive all vaccine doses to be administered on Day 0, 3, and 7 since the incident)

Furthermore, PROVET will also conduct an information education campaign (IEC) throughout the entire Camiguin to educate locals and tourists bringing pets into the island about R.A. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.

Gamo underscored the participation of the public in their campaign against the rabies virus. “Maskin unsa gyud nga programa atong [imugna], kung dili gyud magkooperar, wala gyud gihapon [mahitabo],” (Whatever program we create, nothing will happen if the public will not cooperate) he said. (GDA/PIA-10/Camiguin)