Davao City Veterinarian Office Amplifies Rabies Education in Schools to Protect Children
The Davao City Veterinarian Office (CVO) has significantly intensified its Information Education Campaigns (IEC) within local schools as a core component of its ongoing rabies awareness initiatives. This strategic move aims to educate students on the critical importance of promptly reporting any incidents involving bites or scratches from cats or dogs to their parents or guardians.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Child Safety
Maria Noreen Eng, the officer-in-charge of the CVO's Research and Laboratory Division, highlighted the urgency of this campaign during an interview on the Usapang Pambata program broadcast over Davao City Disaster Radio. "We are currently intensifying our IECs in schools because, based on our experience, children who are bitten by cats or dogs often do not inform their parents immediately, which is extremely dangerous," Eng explained. She emphasized that this delay in reporting can lead to severe health complications, as rabies is a fatal disease if not treated promptly.
Comprehensive Educational Outreach
During these school-based sessions, the CVO provides children with essential information about rabies, including its causes, symptoms, and prevention methods. Key lessons include:
- Immediately washing any bite wounds with soap and running water for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce infection risk.
- Informing parents, older siblings, or teachers about the incident without delay.
- Seeking immediate medical attention to assess the need for post-exposure prophylaxis.
"The most important thing is that they inform their parents right away," Eng stressed, underscoring the campaign's primary goal of fostering quick response habits among young students.
Clarifying Misconceptions and Offering Solutions
Eng also took the opportunity to clarify common misconceptions about rabies. She noted that animals are not born with the disease; rather, rabies is a zoonotic illness caused by a virus transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. It can affect any warm-blooded creature, not limited to cats and dogs. While rabies is fatal, it is preventable through vaccination.
To support prevention efforts, the CVO offers free anti-rabies vaccinations for animals across the city. Additionally, the Davao City Animal Bite Treatment Center provides free post-exposure prophylaxis to individuals who have been bitten or scratched. The CVO is actively conducting anti-rabies vaccination drives in various areas, with schedules regularly updated on their official Facebook page.
Expanding Services and Community Engagement
Pet owners are encouraged to visit the CVO's district offices located in all 11 administrative districts of Davao City to avail of these free vaccination services. In alignment with World Rabies Awareness observances, the CVO has also scheduled free castration services for cats and dogs at multiple locations:
- Barangay Calinan Proper on March 23
- Barangay Cawayan, Calinan District on March 24
- Barangay Tambobong, Baguio District on March 25
- Samantha Homes, Matina Pangi on March 27
These initiatives collectively aim to reduce rabies transmission, promote responsible pet ownership, and enhance public health safety through proactive education and accessible healthcare services.
