Mandaue intensifies anti-rabies drive

THE Mandaue City government will intensify its pet vaccination program in its aim to be a rabies-free city by 2013.

The vaccination will be done for two days in every barangay to ensure that all dogs are covered. The city has 27 barangays.

Dr. Ma. Daisy Penetrante, head of the City Veterinary, told Cebu Daily News the vaccination will start on June 14 and 16 in barangay Subangdaku, which ranks number 1 in rabies cases, according to a data from the City Health Office.

Pet owners will pay P100 for registration. The vaccination is free.

Penetrante said the first thing that the person should do if he is bitten by either dogs or cats is to wash the bite wounds with soap and water and to see a doctor immediately. She warned against putting vinegar or garlic on the wounds.

“Rabies needs to be addressed because it can kill a person. If you have symptoms (of rabies) you need immediate attention,” Penetrante said during the two-day training of coordinators at the city’s Social Development Center.

The pets vaccination started three years ago with a wellness caravan organized by Sarah, wife of Mayor Jonas Cortes. Penetrante and her group then joined the caravan.

Penetrante said the rabies vaccination drive was conducted in Mandaue in 1999 but nobody availed in the barangays.

Now with the help of barangay captains and newly trained barangay rabies coordinators, Penetrante said they were expecting that many residents would avail of the free rabies vaccination. He said the coordinators were trained by the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

Penetrante said they have available 100 vials for the mass vaccination in Subangdaku. The vials are courtesy of the Bill Gates Foundation. REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS