Taguig intensifies campaign vs. rabies
2nd ABTC inaugurated
The local government of Taguig has intensified its anti-rabies campaign by opening its second Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC) last Monday (September 30).
The second ABTC, located in Barangay North Signal, had been inaugurated and is now open to provide Taguig residents bitten by rabies-exposed animals with free treatment and vaccination.
“This is another milestone in our continuing campaign to provide free and accessible health care to our constituents. The Taguig City government is always developing new programs – and improving existing ones – to deliver the social services the people deserves,” Mayor Lani Cayetano said.
Mayor Lani said that with the opening of the second ABTC in the city’s second district, coupled with the recent opening of the third 24/7 Super Health Center, she expects a great leap of improvement in the accessibility of quality healthcare to Taguigenos.
Dr. Isaias Ramos, officer-in-charge of the City Health Office (CHO), said prior to the opening of the second ABTC, people inflicted with rabies would have to go to Barangay Ibayo-Tipas in District 1 for treatment.
This was the reason behind the opening of the second ABTC, in order for those infected in District 2 would not travel far for free treatment and vaccine.
“Rabies is very dangerous and can easily be inflicted on people through bites and scratches so we must have close facilities for treatment available,” Dr. Ramos explained.
There are three categories of rabies exposure and therefore subject to different levels of treatment, all of which will be provided for free in the two existing ABTC.
The three categories are:
- Category I- Touching, feeding, licking of healthy skin with no mucous membrane contact, casual contact with rabid patient
- Category II- Superficial scratch/ abrasion without bleeding, nibbling/ nipping of uncovered skin with bruising
- Category III- Single or multiple transdermal bites/scratches, licking of mucous membrane, all head and neck exposures, exposure to rabid patient, handling of infected carcass, licks of broken skin. ###