Criminalize 'witch docs' anti-rabies surgery in Passi City
"Witch doctors" beware! Or at least those flying and plying within the territorial boundaries of Passi City, the only component city in the Province of Iloilo.
This, as city officials here moved to seek the ultimate approval of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) provisions of City Ordinance No. 2007-012. Once given the SP nod, the common practice of tandok, a crude surgery-like procedure in Passi City will be prohibited.
Tandok is intended as cure for dog bites with the process involving some brief ceremony of the local healer believed to be gifted with powers.
The Department of Health (DOH) has since campaigned against this practice. Is it effective though? The DOH says a big "no."
"Tandok" is folk medicine done by placing a deer horn over the wound. This is believed to suck out the Rabies virus. Records have shown that patients who received "tandok" treatment died either of Rabies or Tetanus, which only means that "tandok" is not effective," the DOH in its official website addresses the subject.
A primitive way of dealing with dog bites, the province has also addressed the issue with a provincial ordinance banning its use as method in treating rabies.
Board Member Macario Napulan, a doctor by profession pushed for the anti-tandok Ordinance declaring it illegal and posing penalties on violators.
As defined by Napulan, the prohibited practice is a native method used by faith healers and herb doctors to treat dog bites.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Silvino Teodosio in supporting the tandok ban then said that it is high time that the practice be regulated.
As emphasized, tandok is very dangerous and very primitive with no scientific basis.