CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In line with its Animal Health Program and annual observance of World Rabies Day (WRD), the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) handed over a total of 2,700 vials of anti-rabies vaccine to the different veterinary offices in NorMin.

The veterinary offices of Misamis Oriental received 1,000 vials, Cagayan de Oro City (700 vials) and Lanao del Norte (1,000 vials) from DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga on September 24 and 28, respectively, at the agency’s compound.

Part of the mitigate measures, the department continues to appropriate budget for vaccines which are being provided to the different local governments regionwide.

On-site vaccinations are being done to animals at the provincial, municipal/city or barangay levels, while some administer them in their respective veterinary offices for their walk-in and nearby clients owning animals or pets.

“One vial can be used to more or less 10 dogs, so for these [provisions], around 27,000 dogs can be vaccinated,” Ma. Lourdes Sypiecco, livestock program focal person of DA-RFO 10 said.

Agricultural Center Chief I Efren Melner S. Viloria of MisOr vet office said, DA has always been supportive in helping eradicating rabies in the province through providing such assistance which could cater to the needs of animal or pet owners.

“The support of DA makes a step closer in ending rabies and safeguarding our community, as a whole,” Dr. Lucien Anthony Acac, CdeO City veterinarian added.

On top of the received anti-rabies vaccines, the LdN vet office has also been given with 1,800 syringes which will be utilized in administering rabies vaccinations of the province.

“Along with the conduct of our ongoing mass vaccination for dogs in the province, we also highlight responsible pet ownership resulting also in raising awareness on how fatal, but preventable the virus is,” Ken Harvey A. Luna, representative of said office remarked.

For this year, the WRD celebration centers on the theme” “End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate.”, where it highlights the aim of zero human deaths by 2030, the significance of dog vaccination and the unanimous effort of concerned stakeholders in eliminating rabies.

Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that can spread to people and animals if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, which is usually transmitted through a bite.# (John Carl R. Anito)