Launching of the Dog RAPINA Study

The study 'Seroprevalence of virus-neutralizing antibodies for rabies using RAPINA in puppies and adult dogs in a community in Muntinlupa  City Philippines" was launched on June 6, 2022.  The event was held at the Biazon Covered Court Southville-3 Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.  At around 10:00am, the program proper of the launch started with a prayer and singing of the Philippine National Anthem.  Opening Remarks was from Dr. Beatriz P. Quiambao, Project Manager from RITM followed by a message from the JICA Philippines where Ms. Ma. Consorcia Orsolino delivered the message in behalf of Mr. Masanari Yanagiuchi, Senior Representative if JICA Philippines.  Dr. Daria L. Manalo, Principal Investigator of the RAPINA Study spoke of the overview of the Project.  Closing Remarks was from Dr. Pamela V. Hernandez, City Veterinarian of City of Muntinlupa.

The 1st day of the study was a success!

A total of 170 dogs participated.  Owners are patiently waiting for their turn.

Dog owners were interviewed individually and let them sign in the Informed Consent Form (ICF) in order to get their commitment to participate in the study for a period of time.  They are then advised when to come back on a given schedule.  Each dog must complete the blood extraction and rabies vaccination procedures.

Here are the actual Interviews of the participants prior the procedures.

Participants of the study were given token a foldable fan.

Here is the group photo of the collaborators of the study.

 

JAPOHR Project 4th Joint Coordinating Committee on May 10, 2022

The 4th Joint Coordinating Committee of the JAPOHR Project was held last May 10, 2022 via Zoom. It was well attended by the collaborators from the Project group, JICA Philippines, Research Institute for Tripocal Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, Deaprtment of Health; Oita University and other important persons.

Welcome remarks were made by Anna Marie Celina Garfin, MD from the Department of Health to replace the Chairperson Razel Nikka Ho, MD who cannot attend the JCC due to other important meeting. Reildrin G. Morales, DVM from Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, and Osuke Komazawa, MD Senior Director of Human Development Dept from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Headquarters also did the Welcome Remarks.

The outline of the Project was explained by Dr.Beatriz Quiambao of RITM. Details of the Project progress was presented by different key persons. The review of the progress was explained by Dr. Akira Nishizono of Oita University followed by the presentation of the progress of the ICT Nationwide study by Dr. Glofezita Lagayan of BAI. Dr. Milagros Mananggit showed the ICT Straw Method being performed in RADDL3 and other regions. The activities on the project site in the Province of Bulacan was presented by the Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Voltaire Basinang.

Dr. Nobuo Saito, the project Deputy Chief Advisor then provided updates on the activities such as the: SLH Human rabies study; Genome analysis using positive kits; Portable PCR machine evaluation; Human RAPINA study; Animal RAPINA study.

The Project Coordinator, Ms. Yuki Kawada presented the various equipmemt that the project donated and the current personnelunder contract in the project. Before the discussion and approval of the proposed amendments was headed by Dr. Anna Marie Celina Garfin, Dr. Saito explained in details the specific areas for amendments while the proposed plan of activities was made by Dr. Akira Nishizono. All the proposals were approved by the collaborators. The closing remarks was done by Dr. Quiambao in behalf of Dr. Celia Carslos, Director of RITM, who cannot attend the meeting. In the endm the 4th JCC Meeting was again a success! It was well received by the collaborators from different deprtment, both from the human and animal side. Everyone is cooperative in meeting the goal of a Rabies Free Philippines. Here are the pictures of the event:

3rd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting of JAPOHR Project (16th Jun,2021 online meeting )

The 3rd JCC meeting was held on June 16, 2021, and it was our first attempt to hold it online (via Zoom).

The meeting was a success with over 50 participants including,  Department of Health, Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Animal Industry, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Province of Bulacan, Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory III, San Lazaro Hospital, the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Japan Embassy, Japan International Cooperating Agency, Oita University, Kitazato University, Tohoku University and NIID.

Under the time constraint, the speakers delivered their presentations in a concise but effective manner to highlight JAPOHR's outputs for 2020. The proposed modifications on the PDM (Project Design Matrix) and the proposed Plan of Activities for 2021 were unanimously approved by the JCC.

Welcome Remarks Leda M. Hernandez, MD Department of Health

Welcome Remarks Reildrin G. Morales, DVM Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry

Go Tanaka, MD Executive Technical Advisor JICA Headquarters

Outline and of JAPOHR Project Beatriz P. Quiambao, MD OIC Director III, RITM, Project Manager

Output 1-1 Milagros Mananggit, DVM Chief, Integrated Laboratory Division RADDL3

Output 1-2 Nobuo Saito, MD, JICA Expert

Output 2  Voltaire G. Basinang, DVM, Provincial Veterinarian Officer, Provincial Government of Bulacan

Output 2 Community study

Timothy John Dizon, MD Medical Officer IV, RITM

Output 2  Rabies data share system

Daphne Jorca, DVM, Animal Health and Welfare Division DA-BAI

Training report

Maria Glofezita O. Lagayan, DVM, DA-BAI

Proposed modification of PDM

Nobuo Saito, MD PhD

JICA Expert

Proposed plan of activities for 2021

Akira Nishizono, MD PhD

Chief Advisor

Discussion and approval

Moderated by Dr. Leda M. Hernandez, Chairperson

Closing Remarks

Celia Carlos, MD CESO III

Director IV, RITM

Project Director

Participants of 3rd JAPOHR JCC

Online Training of RaDSS (Rabies Data Share System)

 A follow-up online training for RaDSS was held on June 4, 2021, via Zoom.  

The training was headed by Mr Richard Edades (JAPOHR/DA-BAI IT staff) with the help of Dr Patricia Lacanilao (JAPOHR Bulacan field veterinarian) and supervised by Dr Nobuo Saito (JAPOHR JCIA expert). The participants for the training were all from the Animal Health Sectors of Bulacan and were attended by representatives from the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Pulilan and Guiguinto.

We performed actual hands-on training following the instructions by Richard. On the spot recommendations and suggestions were shared for proper modification.  After completing the training, the participants got used to understand the actual process flow of the system and got pieces of knowledge of case responses. They got used to analyze and plan for more advanced methods to handle case management.

A sample case simulation was performed (pictures below)

RaDSS Training in Bulacan

 

RaDSS (Rabies data share system) is an internet-based data sharing system developed by DA-BAI, Oita University and JAPOHR project members. The aim of RaDSS is to immediately share the information of laboratory-confirmed rabies animal to rabies workers around the case. RaDSS can lead to timely actions.

JAPOHR project aims to implement Rabies data share system in September 2021 in Bulacan. For that purpose, we conducted RaDSS user trainings to 3 offices (PVO Bulacan, MAO Pulilan and MAO Guigiunto) in Bulacan. 

The training was successfully done and we will do one more online training next week. All participants were excited to use RaDSS.

Although we were close only at the time of the photo, we did strict implementations to prevent COVID 19 infections during the meeting (face mask, face shield, social distance, air ventilation etc) following our meeting and training guidelines.

Guiguinto MAO

Pulilan MAO

PVO with Dr. Voltaire and Dr. Meeka

Municipal Rabies Committee Meeting of Pulilan and Guiguinto, Bulacan

In the Province of Bulacan, two municipalities conducted a Municipal Rabies Committee Meeting spearheaded by the Provincial Veterinary Office. Pulilan Rabies Committee Meeting was held on the 23rd of February while Guiguinto Rabies Committee Meeting was held on the 24th of February. 

Both committees were attended by both the animal and human health side for Rabies Control and Prevention, namely, Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Health Office, DepEd (Representative), Rural Health Unit (Representative), Philippine National Police (Representative), Office of the City/Municipal Mayor (Representative) and the Municipal Council for Agriculture Association of Barangay Captains (Head). The meeting’s agenda was to get an overview of the situation of the animal and human rabies in Bulacan and key project areas such as in Guiguinto and Pulilan. 

To be able to achieve a “One Health Approach” to rabies elimination, all concerned agencies were informed regarding the existing control and preventive measures that both veterinary and medical health side are implementing including policies. All agencies also gave inputs on how to improve and further strengthen different rabies control and prevention given that we are already in a “New Normal” due to the Pandemic. Though this was a first for both municipalities, all agencies agreed that this would not be the last and agreed upon a monthly meeting for continued collaboration.

Here are the actual pictures of the 2-day Committee Meeting:

Guiguinto Rabies Committee Meeting

Pulilan Rabies Committee Meeting

As part of the support to have a successful and effective committee, the JAPOHR project will provide laptops and speakerphones to the municipalities. In this way, online meetings and communications will be easy and fast.  Pulilan, Guiguinto MHO and MAO were the first to be awarded with the said units.

Pulilan MHO and MAO received the laptop and speakerphone

Guiguinto MHO received the laptop and speakerphone

Guiguinto MAO received the laptop and speakerphone

Dog Transport Vehicle JAPOHR project input to Provincial Government of Bulacan

JAPOHR project provided Dog Transport Vehicle to the Provincial Government of Bulacan in order to assist the control and elimination of rabies in Bulacan.

Governor Daniel R. Fernando of the Provincial Government of Bulacan received the Dog Transport Vehicle last October 29, 2020. 

Through the effort of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and as part of Memorandum of Agreement between Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Provincial Government of Bulacan (PGB) on the Establishment of Rabies Network Model (RNM) this vehicle was made possible.

Here is the photo of the Governor receiving the unit.  The following are the persons in the picture:

Mr. Elmer James Deunida - Hyundai Sales Consultant

Dr. Voltaire Basinang - Provincial Veterinarian, PGB

Ms Sherile Monillas - Hyundai Sales Consultant

Governor Daniel R. Fernando - PGB

Mr. Eugenio C. Payongayong  - Provincial Administrator , PGB

The Dog Transport Vehicle