To intensify its rabies prevention and control program, the local government of Muntinlupa has partnered with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control to launch the Community-Based Rabies Surveillance project.
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed a memorandum of agreement with GARC Asia representative Dr. Sarah Jayme and other local officials on Thursday at Muntinlupa City Hall.
Fresnedi hopes the project will improve the city’s efforts on the control and elimination of human and animal rabies-related cases.
The CBRS system aims to pilot and enhance the early warning and rapid response for rabies. It intends to facilitate and improve active rabies surveillance at the community level through an integrated approach including community health workers, veterinarians, and human health and laboratory professionals.
Muntinlupa City Veterinarian Dr. Pamela Hernandez said the partnership seeks to develop and implement and all-inclusive surveillance system that tracks and links suspect animals and humans that have been potentially exposed to rabies, including laboratory diagnosis.
Hernandez added that the project also involves participation from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the Barangay Rabies Control Committee of Muntinlupa’s nine barangays.
Recently, the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry lauded the City Veterinarian Office for its outstanding rabies program. The bureau also praised the city for constructing the very first state-of-the-art government facility for animal pounding.
The Muntinlupa Animal Pound (MAP) is a 405 sq m state-of-the-art facility with six kennel cages, 35 single cages, one surgery room, one euthanasia room, storage room, and a foyer which will serve as a receiving room for clients.
In its inauguration ceremony, Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVAM) president Dr. Joy Santos also cited the new animal pound facility and congratulated the City Government for the construction of MAP.
For more information, you may contact the City Veterinary Office at (02) 862-3866 or visit their Facebook Page “Office of the City Veterinarian Muntinlupa City.”
