by Paoloregel B. Samonte

The local government unit (LGU) of Barangay Batong Malake, in cooperation with UPLB-based organizations Venerable Knight Veterinarians (VKV) Fraternity and Venerable Lady Veterinarians (VLV) Sorority, conducted a free anti-rabies vaccination program last Saturday, July 28 at the Brgy. Batong Malake Barangay Hall.

Over twenty dogs received anti-rabies shots in the vaccination station set up by the project team spearheaded by Mr. Jair Airon Grayal, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student of UPLB and member of the VKV Fraternity. In addition to this station, a separate team was assigned to patrol the barangay vicinity in order to reach more pets in specific areas of concern which included the public market, Lopez Avenue, and the streets of El Danda and Bancal. The anti-rabies injections were funded by the local government unit.

Rabies has continued to be a public concern in the Philippines, a fact evident in the locality as well. Laguna has been named by DOH as one of the ten provinces registering the most number of human rabies cases, with the CALABARZON region one of the regions with the highest incidences of rabies-related human deaths.

Dr. Ross Antonio Banayo, the administering veterinarian and an alumnus of the VKV fraternity and of the UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that aside from the fact that this practice of securing the welfare of dogs and other animals is related to their profession as veterinarians, the activity also served as a form of public service.

“This activity is held to reinforce preventive measures for rabies. This is, of course, better than doing nothing and waiting until someone suffers. Besides, rabies is fatal once it afflicts individual dogs or humans.” Dr. Banayo added.

This biannual activity served as a continuation of an earlier anti-rabies vaccination project conducted last July 14, in which the principal areas of concern were Forestry, Jamboree, Grove, Demarses, Riverside, and Raymundo.