Short training in Oita day 1

From March 11, Dr. Milagros R. Mananggit and Ms. Gina R Manlapig participated in the short training in Oita.

Today, Dr. Yamada, Ms. Yoshida, and Ms. Noguchi explained how to measure anti-rabies antibodies by RFFIT and how to detect viral RNA by real-time RT-PCR.

In the afternoon, Dr. Nishizono explained the outline of the training and explained about our research.

In the evening, we enjoyed Oita special dishes.

In this training, we are planning to diagnosis rabies, visit an animal protection facility, and visit animal quarantine.

I hope that this training will be useful for future measures against rabies.

Visit to Tacloban

On 26-27 February, we visited Tacloban for the technical support of rabies diagnosis and histopathology in Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 8 (RADDL8). In 2013, The big typhoon Haiyan land Tacloban and a lot of people died.

RADDL8 was also damaged but thanks to the support, the building was reconstructed and many types of equipment are installed.

The purpose of this project is to establish one health approach. to diagnose rabies is one of the important roles in this project. In this visit, I was able to hear the diagnosis of rabies that is being done at RADDL 8 and the measures being done in Region8.

By knowing the problem of rabies diagnosis and measures in the Philippines, we would like to develop activities to make future activities available throughout the Philippines.

13 Japanese students from Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) visited RITM on March 7, 2019

Today March 7, 2109, we at JAPOHR project had visitors from Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT).  13 Engineering students came to check on the facilities and services offered by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).  The TIT students visit countries overseas as part of their Global Science and Technology Development Course.  Their aim is to deepen the understanding of international cooperation, especially cooperation in the field of science and technology.

Initially, they had a courtesy call with Dr. Quiambao, Chief, Clinical Research Division of RITM.
Brief background from the Special Pathogens Laboratory (SPL) and Veterinary Research Department (VRD) was visited to have an overview of the department activities.  They also visited the Animal Bite Clinic where the bite and rabies infected patients were treated.

The visit was interactive as students get to ask questions.  Before ending the visit,  Dr. Nobuo Saito, Deputy Principal Investigator did present the JAPOHR project to have a better understanding of it.

Below are some of the pictures of today's visit.

Technical Working Group Workshop at RITM Balmis Conference Room

On March 4, 2019, a workshop for the Technical Working Group (TWG) was held in RITM at Balmis Conference room.  It was facilitated by Dr. Nobuo Saito, the Deputy Principal Investigator of the JAPOHR Project and Dr. Quiambao of the Clinical Research Division of RITM.  It was a 5hour workshop attended by Japanese and Filipino collaborators.  The aim of this TWG is to provide technical inputs towards the achievements of project expected outputs.  Such outputs are: (1) Novel diagnostic methods for rabies in canines and humans are established in testing facilities in the Philippines; (2) Rabies network model is developed in the target area of the project. (3).

There are 5 TWG: Animal rabies diagnosis; Human rabies diagnosis; rabies network model; RAPINA for human; and RAPINA for the animal.

Over the discussions, clearer group purpose was made in order to achieve the project target results.

Here are some of the images that took place on that day....

Indeed the project success is from the cooperative collaboration of Japanese and Filipino experts!

Meeting with GARC member in the Philippines

On 7th Feb, 2019

We have a meeting with GARC Philippines.
The aim of this meeting is to show JAPOHR project to them and to seek possible collaboration.

GARC (Global Alliance for rabies control) conducted great works in the Philippines.
A recent published paper by Chari Amparo et al described rabies situation in the Philippines.
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0199186#pone-0199186-g009
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0199186#pone-0199186-g009

GARC has conducted a community project in Muntinlupa.
Ms Chari explained their well-developed data system for rabies
https://rabiesalliance.org/news/garcs-new-community-based-rabies-surveillance-tool-released-testing-and-training   

Hope we can collaborate with them and their support for our project near future

1st Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting

1^st JCC meeting

On January 25, 2019, the 1^st Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting for “The Project for the Establishment of the One Health Prevention and Treatment Network Model for the Elimination of Rabies in the Philippines” was held. ( Somerset, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Mania). 
JCC is an annual meeting to discuss the program status and the progress. 

Nearly forty (40)participants attended the meeting.
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine(RITM),  
Department of Health (DOH)
Department of Agriculture (DA) 
Japanese universities, Embassy and JICA.

Dr.Leda M. Hernandez, DOH acted as a chairperson and Dr. Mary G. Miranda was M.C. 
The opening part was a warm welcome of the chairperson and Mr. Tomoya Yoshida, JICA headquarters following Mr.Yohei Maruyama who explained on the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) scheme. 

The speaker then was Dr.Beatriz P. Quiambao, Project manager, and Chief, CRD, RITM spoke current situation of rabies in the Philippines and challenges being faced and also mentioned expectations from the Project to address some of the issues through its implementation. 

Prof.Nishizono, Chief Advisor, and Professor, Oita University used a PowerPoint presentation to explain how efficiently the Project's introducing new diagnostic methods can be utilized in combination with one-health approach in the field of rabies elimination activities.

After the coffee break, Dr.Sheila Marie C. Esposo, RITM and Dr. Joely T. Ongtangco, RADDL3 who participated in a training course in Japan shared their experiences with JCC attendees. Dr. Kazunori Kimitsuki, Oita University presented previous activities.

One of the main agendas in the 1^st JCC was to attain consent on the proposed modification of PDM (Project Design Matrix). This task was taken by Dr.Nobuo Saito, Deputy Chief Advisor and Assistant Professor, Oita University. 
After several discussions,  finally, the chairperson asked attendees if the proposed modification, as well as the plan of activities in 2019, were in favour of approval, unanimous consent was attained.

Congratulations!! Hope successful outputs in five years.  

   

Merry Christmas and Happy new year soon

New staff joined our project as a secretary.
Her name is Ms Belle who has working experience in Singapore.
She is so delightful, charming and very friendly person.
She must contribute a lot to our project. Welcome, Belle!

We had a Christmas party with Tohoku group. They kindly invited us to join their party. Thank you very much always.
We are using their office space and follow their management. It is really really helpful for our project.

A happy new year soon!!



Christmath Party with Tohoku group
Tohoku students were firstly eating Baluto