Wednesday, May 14, 2008 116 dogs get free vaccines
OVER 100 dogs in Sogod, Cebu benefited from an outreach program of veterinarians.
The Philippine Veterinary Medical Association-Central Visayas (PVMA-CV) Chapter, together with the Cebu Companion Animal Practitioner’s Association, and assisted by interns from the College of Veterinary Medicine of Southwestern University, held a free rabies vaccination and information drive recently.
The program was not only aimed at helping the animals but also to protect the town’s residents from rabies.
Sogod Mayor Lissa Marie Durano, Municipal Treasurer Joan Nuguid and Municipal Agricultural Officer Milagros Suderio helped the organizers prepare for the activity.
PVMA-CV president Dr. Ging Berdon said they chose the municipality to serve the residents who have limited access to veterinary services.
“This year, we are aiming our free rabies vaccination program towards the outlying municipalities of the province. If budget permits, we would also like to include the less affluent sections of Cebu City,” she said.
Implications
“We would like to remain true to the real essence of a free clinic. And that is to offer medical services, like rabies vaccinations, in areas where the residents have limited access to or cannot afford veterinary care for their dogs,” she added.
“Rabies is a very important disease. People in these areas may have heard of it but do not exactly know what its implications are. They do not know how to manage bite cases nor do they know where to go or whom to approach for help,” she also said.
“Our Rabies Vaccination Program is two-pronged. We incorporate a lecture for the barangay health workers, barangay personnel, as well as pet owners, about the disease. Giving free vaccinations is useless without educating the pet owner as well,” she added.
The lectures were conducted by the Regional Rabies Coordinator Rachel Cadeliña and Dr. Santiago Hortel of the Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office.
