COTABATO CITY - The Ministry of Health converging with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform to celebrate annually the World Rabies Day on September 28, 2022 with a theme: “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths” at the Old DOH XII covered court, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.

One Health: The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the stark vulnerabilities of health systems, but also demonstrated what collaboration across sectors can achieve rabies program offers a great example for One Health implementation and the structures and trust that underpin these are crucial for other zoonotic diseases.

Zero Deaths: Zero by 30; Global Strategic Plan for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 is aligned with the new NTD road map that prioritizes integrated interventions and mainstreaming of Neglected Tropical Diseases program within national health systems.

The integrated approaches advocated in both the Global Strategic Plan for rabies and the road map are relevant, as they show the importance of working together optimally and collaboratively in face of numerous challenges, as experienced during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The MOH – BARMM provides free Post Exposure Prophylaxis (Anti-Rabies Vaccines) to the first 50 dog/cat bite-related patients and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to the animal handlers and other high-risk individual.

The MAFAR – BARMM will also be providing free anti-rabies vaccines, deworming, vitamin supplementation services to dogs and cats.

According to Dr. Rolanisah Dipatuan, Medical Officer IV/ Head of Infectious Diseases Cluster MOH that this celebration is crucial to raise awareness and to bring us together as partners for preventions and controls.

It is every important to us to know about rabies because being infected and not well treated can be fatal.

This celebration enables us to prevent from harming our family, neighbors, and the community.

Moreover, Sir Geraldson Navarra, DVM quoted that rabies is preventable, we encourage pet-owners and handlers to get vaccine for free which is annually conducted by the MAFAR – BARMM.

The rabies infection can lead to death especially if the infected person is not being treated after exposure to a rabid animal, the anti-rabies vaccine consists of three doses.

Health professionals also elaborated some facts about rabies prevention and symptoms: Fact #1: There is a treatment for rabies, but it must be given correctly and immediately after exposure to a rabid animal. Fact #2: Dogs and cats are not naturally born with rabies.

It is a viral disease transmitted via introduction of virus landed saliva into tissues, usually by the bite of rabid animal. Fact #3: All dogs should be vaccinated at 3-4 months and then at the regular interval. Fact #4: Rabies symptoms in humans are: hallucination, light sensitivity, insomnia, hydrophobia, aggression, and excessive salivation.

Fact #5: Rabies symptoms in dogs are: Change in attitude and behavior, changes in bark, dropped jaw, unable to swallow, excessive salivation, fever, hydrophobia, and paralysis.

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Each year's Generics Awareness Month 2022 commemorated by the Ministry of Health BARMM's Pharmaceutical Unit on Monday, September 26 at Datu Paglas National High School, with the theme "Access sa gamot at serbisyo, ipaabot sa mga Pilipino."

Since the Republic Act No. 6675, also known as the Generics Act of 1988, was passed into law, we celebrate Generics Awareness Month every September. 2022 will represent the milestone's 34th year with the aforementioned theme. This is intended to motivate Filipinos to take a more active role in selecting the most reasonably priced essential medication that meets their needs.

This year, we are encouraging our grade 12 students to support the use of generic medications because their generation will be a key factor in enhancing public welfare in the years to come.

Additionally, by imparting knowledge to these kids, we are boosting our campaign on how making the best use of high-quality, reasonably-priced medications is one method to guarantee long-term access to health commodities and lower out-of-pocket expenses for every home.

Speakers from the Buluan District Hospital, FDA RO XII, and the Maguindanao Chapter of the Philippine Pharmacists Association discuss the definition of generic pharmacy and how it differs from branded drugs.

The principal of DPNHS thanks the Ministry of Health for giving them the opportunity to participate in the Generics Awareness Month event. " I also take maintenance medication, so learning the distinction between generic and branded products has given me confidence that generics can support my health in the same ways that branded products do while also enabling me to save money" she said.

The activity was successfully done by the full support of Brgy. Officials, Local Government Unit of Datu Paglas and Datu Paglas National High School administration, Faculty and Staff.

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COTABATO CITY - The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Integrated Provincial Health Office – Maguindanao launched an orientation to intensify the Bakunahang Bayan: PINASLAKAS: Special COVID 19 Vaccination Days at South Seas Complex, Monday.

The orientation aims to strengthen the COVID vaccination campaign within the province of Maguindanao this week September 26-30, 2022. Present at the said orientation was the OIC Minister of Health, Deputy Minister Zul Qarneyn Abas MD, Dr. Alex Ampatuan, Mr. Nasrullah Imam - PDRRMO-Mag, Dr. Elizabeth Samama, Provincial Health Officer II, IPHO-staff.

As of September 23, 2022, the IPHO – Maguindanao reported a total of 1,065,938 doses administered. According to the data, over 612,235 or 66% given at least one dose, 494,811 or 54% for fully vaccinated, 113,383 or 12% for partially vaccinated, and a total of 42,135 or 5.6% for 1st booster doses while 310,637 or 34% unvaccinated population within the Maguindanao. They will also have a recalibrated target of 922,872 or 80% of the population with a 2022 total population of 1, 389,643.

In addition, the IPHO – Maguindanao also emphasized the SVD target priority age group are 90% for A2 Senior Citizen and 50% for eligible population 12 years old and above to intensify the vaccination coverage, the IPHO identified lowest unvaccinated municipalities were Talayan, Guindulungan, Paglat, Datu Unsay, Kabuntalan, Datu Salibo, Datu Abdullah Sangki, GSKP.

OIC Minister of Health, Deputy Minister Zul Qarneyn Abas, MD stated that “Hindi pa natatapos ang pagsugpo sa COVID, kaya naman mas paiigtingin ang COVID vaccination coverage sa BARMM.

Aforementioned, strategies and activities were discussed for the pre-implementation phase such as: Granular analysis of data and vaccination coverages per catchment or barangay, mapping of areas with low vaccination coverages, and microplanning of activities related to SVD strategies.

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