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

1st Online Scientific Meeting of the JAPOHR Project

The 1st Scientific Meeting of the JAPOHR Project held last October 23, 2020.  Due to the current situation brought by Covid 19 where everybody is working in distance, the online meeting was held in order to continue with the project activities.  The Covid19 pandemic has spread all over the world and affected many JICA projects. Thus, JAPOHR project was able to continue data and sample collection under the situation.

The Project aims to restart the activities in the Provincial Government of Bulacan gradually.  Through the data presented in the meeting, the Project and the counterparts will have an idea of the progress and plan ahead.

The moderators were Dr. Nobuo Saito and Ms. Yuki Kawada, the new Project Coordinator.  Presenters of important data were Dr. Kazunori Kimitsuki, Dr. Timothy John Dizon and Dr. Nobuo Saito;  while Dr. Beatriz Quiambao, Dr. Akira Nishizono, Dr. Milagros Mananggit, Dr. Daphne Jorca updated everyone with the current situation of their respective departments.  Dr. Voltaire Basinang and Dr. Jocelyn Esguerra-Gomez were represented by Dr. Manny Francisco and Ms. Patricia Alvaro to report on Provincial Veterinary Office and the Provincial Health Office.  

Overall, the Scientific Meeting information shared was very important and useful for the progress of the Project.   Everyone agreed these will benefit not only the project itself but also the counterpart's ongoing activities in achieving the goals.

All were hopeful that Covid 19 soon shall pass and we will all back to normal.  But while the pandemic is limiting everyone with physical activities,  more productive online meetings shall take place to overcome the limitations.

Vaccinator Training at Pulilan, Bulacan

 As part of the Rabies Awareness Month, mass vaccination in every municipality of Bulacan is being facilitated by the Agricultural or Veterinary Office. In line with this, last March 12, 2020, a Vaccinator The training was held in Pulilan, Bulacan spearheaded by two veterinarians from the Provincial Veterinary Office, Dr. Lea Meeka Fernando and Dr. Sharon Policarpio as trainers, together with the municipality’s veterinarian, Dr. Benedict Bernardo. JAPOHR was represented by Dr. Nobuo Saito and Dr. Patricia Mae Lacanilao. The participants of this training were representatives from each of the 19 barangays.

The training included a brief discussion on what Rabies is, some myths and facts about the disease and finally, on how it is spread. Training program focused on the right way to inject the vaccine to dogs and cats, handling dogs and cats during vaccination and how to store the vaccine. Dr. Bernardo discussed some recent cases of Rabies in the Municipality highlighting those barangays where Rabies is repeatedly occurring.

Dr. Pat briefly introducing the project and discussing how, where and when to send samples for Rabies testing. 

On-hand teaching of Rabies vaccination to barangay volunteers.

 Actual vaccination was shown to make sure that volunteers will perform the proper way to the vaccine.

The event ended with the volunteers eager to vaccinate and help the Agriculture Office conduct mass vaccinations the following week until the end of March.

6th Technical working group meeting for Bulacan Rabies Project held on the 10th March 2020

The 6th Technical Working Group was held last March 10, 2020, in Max's Restaurant Kapitolyo Branch in Malolos, Bulacan.  This was attended by the core group of the TWG3 which was facilitated by the Bulacan Provincial Veterinary Office Dr. Voltaire Basinang and the JAPOHR Dr. Nobuo Saito.

Dr . Timothy Dizon of  RITM explained the preliminary results of community survey held last February.  

Dr. Manny Francisco of Bulacan Provincial Veterinary Office reported the ongoing mass vaccination projects of all the municipalities of Bulacan.

Dr Saito suggested the necessities to create model municipal and model barangay for the successful implementation of the project. Municipality of Pulilan and one barangay (Poblacion) are willing to be the model area. 

Active participation of attendees during the meeting.

Indeed, another meaningful meeting of the TWG3.

JAPOHR Project 2nd JCC

JAPOHR project 2nd JCC was held on February 11, 2020, at The Bayleaf Intramuros.  The event was well attended by important stakeholders involved in the project.  It was a successful event where the participants and collaborators got information from the reports presented.

                                                                           Ms. Patricia Ann Alvaro of the Provincial Health Office of Bulacan played MC.  

First speaker was the Chairperson,  Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, the Undersecretary of Health (Public Health Services Team). She made lively opening remarks, recognizing the presence of all departments involved.  She announced support of the project good intentions.  Opening remarks are then followed by Dr. Nishizono, Chief Advisor who discussed the outline of the JAPOHR project.

Dr, Myrna Cabotaje on her Opening Remarks

Dr. Nishizono on his presentation

On behalf of  Ms. Ayumu Ohshima, Senior Representative of JICA Philippinesr,  Ms. Flerida Chan, Senior Chief of JICA Philippines represented her to do also the welcome remarks.

Ms. Flerida Chan

The overall progress was presented by the Project Manager, Dr. Beatriz P. Quiambao who is now the OIC-Assistant Director of RITM.

Dr. Beatriz Quiambao presenting the overall progress of the project

Dr. Milagros Mananggit of the Integrated Laboratory Division of RADDL3 discussed briefly the review of progress.  She explained the progress of Output 1-1 (animal rabies diagnosis) 

Dr. Sheila Esposo of the Histopathology Section of RITM presented the histopathological analysis for rabid dog.

Dr. Nobuo Saito's presentation is about human rabies diagnosis.  He explained the Biomarker survey at Oita University and the Systematic sample collection in SLH. (Output 1-2 human rabies diagnosis) 

Dr. Nobuo Saito, JICA Expert

The Provincial Veterinary Officer, Dr. Voltaire Basinang of The Provincial Government of Bulacan explained the progress of activities in Bulacan.  

Dr. Voltaire Basinang from PVO, Bulacan

The Rabies Data Share System (RaDSS) was discussed  by Dr. Daphne Jorca, the Project Co-Manager.  The framework and the process of how it works was explained.

Dr. Daphne Jorca of DA-BAI

The part of Dr. Timothy John Dizon of the Medical Department of RITM was about the Community Study with details on KP (Knowledge and Practices) and Dog Ecology Study.  

Dr. Timothy John Dizon

Mr.. Koji Shimokawa presented the project major inputs.  Topics were the training course in Japan; technical support personnel; laboratory and IT equipment; and the JICA local budget expenditure.

Mr. Koji Shimokawa, the Project Coordinator

One of the collaborators who went to Japan for training was Ms, Gina Manlapig.  her report was about the training of a molecular epidemiological study for measures against rabies under JAPOHR project.

Ms. Gina Manlapig of DOH-RFO3

Another part of Dr. Nobuo Saito was about the proposed modification of the  PDM (Project Design Matrix) and R/D (records of Discussion).  Dr. Akira Nishizono also explained the proposed plan of activities for 2020.  During the discussion part,  attendees actively asked questions and was given answers directly.  Discussion and approval facilitated by Dr. Leda Hernandez where the project gets the approval on some amendments.

 

Dr. Leda Hernandez on the discussion and approval of the amendments

The informative meeting was a success!  Closing the event was made by the RITM Director, Dr. Celia C. Carlos.    The director congratulated all for the efforts done.  She thanks everyone who actively collaborating for the success of the project.  While she hopes to more fruitful activities that will benefit not only animals but also humans.  She wishes everybody good luck.

Closing Remarks by RITM Director, Dr. Celia C. Carlos

This is the group photo! All happy faces and positive to the more activities to happen in the future for the success of the project!  All is woking AS ONE just like the project suggests ONE HEALTH approach!

Meeting and Turnover ceremony at DA-BAI

On 13th Feb, Prof. Nishizono, Dr. Saito, and Dr. Kimitsuki visited DA-BAI.
First of all, we explained the outline of the project to the director and suggested an operational plan for the immunochromatographic test that we developed. The kit is simple, quick to diagnose, and does not require expensive equipment such as a fluorescence microscope. Therefore, we hope that the use of this kit will expand throughout the Philippines and enhance rabies surveillance.

After our meeting, we proceeded to the turnover ceremony for the deep freezer, data saver, and fluorescence microscopes introduced by our project.

This equipment will strengthen the diagnostic techniques of rabies and the communication system. Through this project, our project cooperates with DA-BAI, and we will work together to contribute to the elimination of rabies, both human and animal side.

Training Day of the Rabies KP (Knowledge and Practices) and Dog Ecology Study

The Rabies KP and Dog Ecology Study is part of the project under RITM and Oita University research collaboration of the JAPOHR project.  

Part of the study is the data collection where there will be 12 enumerators to conduct a survey on the target barangays of the 6 municipalities (Pulilan, Paombong , Bulakan, Guiguinto, Calumpit and Hagonoy) of the Province of Bulacan.  Last February 3, 2020 at Max's Malolos Branch in Bulacan, comprehensive training was facilitated by Dr. Timothy John Dizon of RITM who leads this study; Ms. Micah Salunga, the project Field Research Manager of the study together with the 4 staff of DEBS (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics) of RITM.

The study will conduct a comprehensive investigation on the relationship of dogs and human to better understand the dynamics of human and dog populations with the overall goal of generating data that may help in programs to stop the spread of rabies.  A total of 125 households from the 6 barangays will be the target for survey.  An electronic survey will be done using the KoBo collect (this allows to collect data in the field using mobile devices such as mobile phone).  

The enumerators were all actively participating in the activities and raising questions to make sure they get the right understanding while the trainers are all willing to provide them with the correct information.

At the end of the training day,  all is positive and confident that they will conduct the survey  successfully achieving the target goals.

MOA Signing Ceremony Bulacan Province and JAPOH

On the 20th January 2020, the Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) was signed between Provincial Government of Bulacan, target municipalities (Calumpit, Guiguinto, Paombong, Pulilan, Bulakan, Hagonoy) and JAPOHR (RITM, Oita University, DA-BAI)at the Gymnasium of the Bulacan Provincial Capitol.

The special event was graced by the Honorable Governor Daniel R. Fernando together with Provincial Veterinary Officer, Dr. Voltaire Basinang; Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Esguerra-Gomez; and the Mayors of the 6 municipalities. Other signatories who came to the event were the DA-BAI Director Ronnie Domingo; RITM Director, Dr. Celia C. Carlos; RITM Asst. Director, Dr. Beatriz Quiambao;  and Dr Nobuo Saito (Oita University/JICA on behalf of project leader: Pro Akira Nishizono)

This will mark the official start of the implementation of the project activities in Bulacan until 2023.