Vets scour for more anti-rabies vaccine
Iloilo remains to be the number one province with the most number of rabies incidents that despite the massive anti-rabies campaign launched early this week, Iloilo towns still need government's help for more vaccines.
In fact, with the drive that kicked off in the Municipality of Oton, Provincial Rabies coordinator Epifania Gegare said only 18% of the estimated dog population here are to be covered.
To date, 50 vials of the anti-rabies vaccine were distributed by the Department of Health (DOH) to all 42 Iloilo towns and one component city of Passi. Another 50 vials are to follow with each vial able to serve ten dogs. The Provincial Government of Iloilo added 25 vials as its counterpart to each of the towns.
The DOH has since called on the local chief executives for rabies control ordinances, a dog registration and dog vaccination center, and stray-dog control program. There is also to be a "functional" barangay rabies brigade following the alarming increase of dog-bite incidents.
Leading the Capitol's anti-rabies campaign is the Provincial Veterinarian Office with the drive hampered by lack of government resources.