The province of Bohol is hosting the 2024 Rabies Summit of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7, which kicked off on September 17, 2024 and will run until September 19 at the Solea Coast Resort in Panglao town.
The four-day event aims to review the program implementation and planning workshop of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRCPP), attended by 77 program coordinators from the Central Visayas Region.
Jonathan Neil Erasmo, chief of the Local Health Support Division of DOH 7 Center for Health Development (CHD), welcomed the participants, followed by Dr. Bayo Fatunbi, Technical Officer from the World Health Organization (WHO), who discussed the role of institutions in the NRCPP.
Alexander Taruc, WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Consultant, provided updates on the NRCPP, while Dr. Ronald Jarvik Buscato, Medical Officer IV of DOH 7 CHD, presented guidelines on rabies and animal bite management.
Senior Program Health Officer Jaika Jel Besira of DOH 7 CHD also discussed the status of Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) and Animal Bite Clinics (ABCs) in the region.
In a brief interview during the opening ceremony, Besira emphasized the overall objective of the summit, particularly in improving program processes.
On the second day, Dr. Orfel June Calunsag, Veterinarian II of the Department of Agriculture 7, provided an update on animal rabies initiatives, followed by a presentation on the PhilHealth Benefit Package for Animal Bites.
Today, participants will engage in a planning workshop and present best practices in ABTCs in each province, ABTC flow of services in highly-urbanized cities such as Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, and workshop outputs.
On the final day of the regional summit, participants will present their Regional Action Plan, followed by an open forum and evaluation based on co-created workshop outputs and shared best practices in the NRCPP.
Bohol has a total of 15 ABTCs and ABCs, where residents can receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccines to prevent rabies infection.
According to the Provincial Health Office, Governor Aris Aumentado issued a memorandum last year to strengthen responsible pet ownership to reduce the number of dog-related accidents and animal bites as part of the Strategic Change Agenda for the health and well-being of Boholanos.
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