School-based anti-rabies campaign a success, says Gaane

Councilor Paolo Nicolo Gaane, chair of the City Council committee on health, on Monday, reported on the successful school-based Information and Education Campaign (IEC) on rabies awareness.

“Rabies remains a real and present danger. It is a threat that endangers every child who plays in our streets, and every family that has yet to be reached by protection and awareness,” said Gaane, during the regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez.

According to the councilor, the City Veterinary Office provided informative sessions to 15 public schools including City Central School, Migtugsok Elementary School, and Besigan Elementary School, reaching more than 5,300 students, teachers, and personnel.

City Veterinary Office has rolled out a high-density rabies vaccination program across 10 barangays: Balulang, Carmen, Gusa, Camaman-an, Canitoan, Pagatpat, Iponan, Tablon, Lumbia, and Agusan, covering 43 vaccination days from March to May 2026.

“With a target of nearly 30,000 dogs in over 62,000 households, this effort is (a) serious, citywide public health intervention,” Gaane opined.

Councilor Gaane commended the City Veterinarian Dr. Helen Ann Tacandong, together with Dr. Jiff Nasser Velasco and Dr. Rod Grayson Baylo, for their spearheading this initiative.

“Their collective efforts demonstrate the strength of inter-agency collaboration, an approach that delivers real, measurable results for our people,” he said.

“What we have achieved this month must not remain a one-time campaign. It must become the gold standard,” Gaane concluded. (JBD/SP)