City vet vaccinates more than 18,000 dogs
The Iloilo City Government through the City Veterinarian Office has completed its massive dog vaccination program to prevent the spread of rabies that commonly infects humans through dog bites.
“The incidence of positive rabies cases in the city has greatly increased over the last few years. Rabies is a dreaded and fatal disease. It has already reached an alarming condition that immediate measure is needed to address the situation,” Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said.
Mabilog has created a rabies control committee, which he chairs, to implement rabies control activities.
Dr. Suzzette Leal of CVO said they have vaccinated 18,256 dogs as of August 31, more than the 70-percent target out of the 23,032 total dog population in the city.
Leal said they utilized 325 vials of anti-rabies vaccine for dog vaccination in 180 barangays funded by the P1-million budget allocated last year. Pet owners can still have their dogs vaccinated at the CVO office Motorpool Compound in Delgado Street.
The World Health Organization and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also provided 2,200 vials of vaccine to complete the dog immunization from March to June.
The BMGF funded US$2.2million grant for the “Rabies-Free Visayas Islands” project which covers Western, Central and Eastern Visayas regions until 2013.
Meanwhile, the city rabies control committee is co-chaired by Councilor Lyndon Acap, chairman of City Council committee on health and sanitation.*
