22/10/2020
Rabies is endemic in the Philippines it remains a significant health problem in our
country. It is a fatal viral infection that results in the death of 200-300 people
annually mostly affecting children below 15 years old.
Despite the implementation of the R.A. 9482 (Anti-Rabies act of 2007), many places
in the Philippines fails to properly implement the anti-rabies program. Being
neglected zoonotic disease, rabies is often unreported especially in rural areas
which results in limited data of actual rabies exposure, or most cases do not exist. In
Southeast Asia, the Philippines is among the top 5 countries that recorded the
highest casualty in terms of rabies infection.
Other than the anti-rabies program, the government should also educate the
people about the policies, and support the local government in implementing the
program. The LGU should have strict regulations in controlling the cases of
rabies on their locality. Every province should have their pound where they can
rehabilitate the stray dogs, a pound that will not see euthanasia as a solution to
the problem, pound that will implement the rehabilitation and adaptation program
where the pound will rehabilitate the captured dogs for the dog to have a chance
in the adoption of a responsible fur-parent. Also one of the best solutions for the
problem is to implement spay and neuter of stray dogs to control their population.
Spaying and neutering stray dogs will decrease their population and most likely
decreasing the population of stray dogs will also decrease the infection rate of
the viral disease.
In the Philippines, the government should encourage responsible pet-owning and
breeding for purpose. Some pet owners use their dogs for puppy mill which
results in overpopulation of dogs.
