World Rabies Day and Experiences of the Philippines in Rabies Prevention and Control EMELINDA L. LOPEZ, DVM, MSc Rabies Focal Person Animal Health and Welfare Division Bureau of Animal Industry Department of Agriculture PHILIPPINES
Celebration of World Rabies Day
Celebration of World Rabies Day Declaration of Rabies-Free Zones Raising Rabies Awareness and Responsible Pet Ownership Best Rabies Implementers
Celebration of World Rabies Day Joint Department of Health and Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 01, series of 2008 Guidelines for Declaring Areas as Rabies-Free Zones
38 Rabies-Free Zones
Executive Order No. 84 dated 13 March 1999 Declaring March as the Rabies Awareness Month, Rationalizing the Control Measures for the Prevention and Eradication of Rabies and Appropriating Funds Therefor
Medium Term Plan for Rabies (2017-2022) OPLAN RED OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR RABIES ELIMINATION IN DOGS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Rabies Prevention and Contol Goal of OPLAN RED: To progressively reduce the risk of dog rabies in areas where present and maintain freedom where this has been achieved Includes initial evidence-based classification of key compartments (provinces and cities) as: High Risk Medium Risk Low Risk Candidate Free Zone Officially Free Zone Map of ABRA PROVINCE (with municipalities)
OPLAN RED OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR RABIES ELIMINATION IN DOGS IN THE PHILIPPINES Categorizing Level of Rabies Risk in Sub-National Compartments
Categorizing Level of Rabies Risk in the Province, City and Barangay (Village) RISK HIGH MEDIUM LOW FOCUS / ACTIVITY Rabies risk reduction through Mass Dog Vaccination (MDV) Improving surveillance by proactive case investigations Enhancing dog movement control to prevent intrusion by monitoring dog movements and strengthening quarantine
Promoting One Health in the Community Establishment and operationalization of a local One Health coordination mechanism at the community level to improve rabies case detection and reporting, as well as to prompt relevant interventions that will address the disease at source o Process Flow for Practical Linking in a Rabies Event in the Community o Operational Protocol for Practical Linking of Animal and Human Health Sectors for Rabies Investigation, Response and Reporting
Animal Rabies Case Investigation Form More in-depth case investigation of animal rabies cases which allows trace back/trace forward of events o Trace back - finds out source of rabies; ascertains earlier dog bites with other dogs and with other people which may need treatment o Trace forward - identifies animals and people that came into contact with the rabid animal which may need observation/treatment
Integration of Rabies Awareness in the Educational System (K-12) Rabies Education - Planning Workshop - Curriculum Mapping Workshop
Challenges 1. Sustaining a higher national budget for the program 2. Support of Local Chief Executives or LCEs (governors of provinces and mayors of cities/municipalities) for the implementation of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP); program is less prioritized 3. Complacency of some local government veterinarians in playing an active role in rabies prevention and control 4. Resistance of some communities to have their pets vaccinated against rabies due to social-cultural beliefs 5. Prompt reporting on the utilization of rabies vaccines 6. Fielding of more vaccinators to fast track MDV
THANK YOU! Maraming salamat!