09/04/2026
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) through its Animal Bite Treatment Center (ABTC), continues to take a proactive stance in strengthening rabies prevention and control in Cagayan through a comprehensive three-day training on Rabies and Animal Bite Exposure Management. Held from April 7 to April 9, 2026 at Hotel Carmelita in Tuguegarao City, the activity reflects the provinceโs sustained commitment to capacitating healthcare workers and expanding access to life-saving services.
Mr. Shamon C. De Yro, Nurse III and National Rabies Prevention and Control Program Coordinator of PHO, the training gathered 22 participants comprising doctors, nurses, and midwives from various Rural Health Units across Alcala, Iguig, Amulung, Peรฑablanca, Rizal, Sto. Niรฑo, Ballesteros, Sta. Ana, Lasam, Lal-lo, and Gattaran.
The training was designed not only to enhance technical knowledge but also to ensure that future Animal Bite Treatment Center personnel are well-equipped with updated protocols and standards. It serves as a platform for disseminating revised rabies management guidelines and strengthening local health systems in addressing rabies and rabies-prone exposures. Ultimately, the initiative aims to support participating RHUs in securing accreditation and licensing from the Department of Health (DOH), enabling them to operate as fully functional bite centers with access to anti-rabies vaccines.
The program also highlights a collaborative approach, with contributions from various experts and partner agencies. Alongside De Yro, Dr. Angelo L. Trinidad of PHO, Kristine Joy Bartolome of the Provincial Integrated Health Office (PIHO) of Nueva Vizcaya, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture Region 2 and PhilHealth served as resource speakers. Participants engaged in discussions covering a wide range of topics, including human rabies epidemiology, management of animal bite exposures, establishment and certification of ABTCs, animal rabies, laboratory diagnosis and reporting, relevant policies and regulations, and PhilHealth accreditation processes.
A key highlight of the training is the practicum on its final day, where participants are given hands-on experience in screening and vaccinating patients at the ABTC-PHO. This practical component ensures that learning is translated into real-world application, reinforcing both competence and confidence among healthcare providers.
At present, Cagayan has established 19 functional bite centers strategically located across the province. These include facilities in 12 district hospitals, the ABTC-PHO at the Capitol Compound in Tuguegarao City, the Sub-Capitol in Bangag, Lal-lo, the Cagayan Valley Medical Center, selected Rural Health Units such as those in Calayan, Ballesteros, and Lal-lo, as well as the Divine Mercy Wellness and Medical Center in Tuguegarao City. This growing network of bite centers signifies a major step toward making free anti-rabies vaccination more accessible, particularly for individuals exposed to dog and cat bites.
Through sustained training, inter-agency collaboration, and service expansion, the Provincial Health Office reaffirms its commitment to protecting communities and moving closer to the goal of a rabies-free Cagayan.
