Towards a future free from rabies

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

PUERTO GALERA --- Ya-l Inigo Ezra Garcia, a six-year-old boy and a Grade 1 student at Talipanan Mangyan School, brings his cat, “Cutie,” with him every day as his constant companion.

Ya-l is a member of the Iraya Mangyan tribe, residing in the Iraya Mangyan Village at the foot of Mt. Malasimbo in Barangay Talipanan, approximately 10 kilometers from Puerto Galera’s town center.

The Iraya Mangyan are one of eight indigenous tribes in Oriental Mindoro. Ya-l was cuddling his pet, Cutie, while waiting for a group of volunteers from Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc., along with government and private veterinarians, and officials involved in the ‘Stop Rabies’ program in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, to mark World Rabies Day.

When asked if Cutie was vaccinated, Ya-l told Bicol Mail that his pet had not been vaccinated yet.

“Every day, I bring my pet, Cutie. She’s not vaccinated yet but behaves well in school. I’m happy with how she acts in the classroom. But with the scheduled vaccination on September 28, I’ll take her to get her first dose,” Ya-l said in an interview at Talipanan Mangyan School.

Pino Silaa Aranzado, a Grade 3 teacher and a Mangyan educator at Talipanan Mangyan School, said that there are 293 students enrolled in the indigenous school. Of these, 143 Mangyan pupils attended the anti-rabies information and education campaign aimed at preventing incidents similar to that of a 13-year-old girl who died after being bitten by a rabid dog in February 2024.

Ya-l, along with the other 142 pupils, listened intently to the discussions led by government representatives, Boehringer Ingelheim, Global Alliance, the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, and other stakeholders, all working together to combat rabies, particularly in rural areas.

In addition to the Mangyan pupils, the group also conducted an anti-rabies information drive at Puerto Galera Central School in Poblacion, Puerto Galera.

Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc., in partnership with the government and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, launched the ‘Stop Rabies’ program in Puerto Galera with the theme Breaking Rabies Boundaries, to commemorate World Rabies Day.

The initiative aims to drive efforts toward achieving a rabies-free Philippines. Now in its third year, the ‘Stop Rabies’ program dedicates a week to advancing rabies education and conducting mass animal rabies vaccinations and neutering programs for both cats and dogs in Puerto Galera and Calapan City.

Dr. Anna Esmeralda J. Nagera, head of Companion Animal Business at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc., highlighted the importance of the program: “Rabies remains a critical public health issue, causing 59,000 deaths annually across 150 countries. This neglected tropical disease primarily affects marginalized, poor, and rural populations, with 40 percent of victims being children in Africa and Asia, including the Philippines. We are making meaningful progress towards reducing rabies in Puerto Galera by vaccinating and neutering animals and empowering communities with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their pets.”

The spread of rabies has escalated in the Philippines since 2023, with 169 human rabies cases leading to 160 deaths and a fatality rate of 94.67 percent. Of these cases, 156 were associated with dog bites, 10 with cat bites, and 3 with bites from other animals.

Dr. Alfredo Manglicmot, from the Provincial Veterinary Office of Oriental Mindoro, emphasized the regional threat posed by rabies: “Rabies poses a serious threat in our region, and protecting the community remains our top priority. In collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, we are strengthening our efforts in vaccination, education, and castration to ensure the safety of both animals and people in Puerto Galera.”

The ‘Stop Rabies’ program prioritizes animal vaccination as the most effective strategy in preventing rabies, enhancing both animal and human health. The initiative aims to vaccinate approximately 5,000 animals in 13 barangays in Puerto Galera, including Aninuan, San Isidro, and Balatero.

The program also includes neutering dogs and cats in collaboration with the Philippine Animal Hospital Association, Inc. (PAHA), MiMaRoPa Surgeons, and Marinduque Field Hospital. Key partners also include the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation, Inc., Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association, Bureau of Animal Industry MIMAROPA Regional Office, Puerto Galera LGU, and the Provincial Veterinary Office of Oriental Mindoro.

In addition to mass vaccination and sterilization efforts, rabies education sessions are held on rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership for schoolchildren in Palangan, Poblacion, Tabinay, and Dulangan.

With 30 years of experience in rabies prevention and management, Boehringer Ingelheim said that they are committed to achieving zero rabies casualties by 2030 through sustained and collaborative community efforts in partnership with the government and other stakeholders.

Chari Amparo, Spokesperson, Global Alliance for Rabies Control, highlighted the importance of the collaboration: “Eliminating rabies is not just a goal; it’s a necessity for global health. By prioritizing education, improving vaccination efforts, and strengthening surveillance, we can empower communities to safeguard their health and work towards a world where rabies is no longer a threat to human or animal life.”

Rabies is entirely preventable with proper vaccination, education, and surveillance programs, improving animal health together with human health. These rabies elimination efforts help control the spread of rabies, save lives, and ultimately contribute to a world where humans and dogs live together in greater harmony.

The ‘Stop Rabies’ program represents a significant step towards a rabies-free future, integrating community engagement, educational outreach, and essential medical interventions.

TOM CAT 6-year-old boy Ya-l Inigo Ezra Garcia, a grade 1 pupil at Talipanan Mangyan School in Puerto Galera listens intently during the anti-rabies information drive conducted by the government, the Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc; GLobal Alliance and other non-governmental organization that aims to end rabies infection in the Philippines.