JAPOHR 2nd TWG Last May 21, 2019 at Max's Restaurant

The JAPOHR 2nd TWG was held in Max's Restaurant in Pulilan, Bulacan on May 21, 2019.
Headed by Dr. Nobuo Saito and Dr. Voltaire Basinang as the Chairperson; Co-chairperson, Dr. Jocelyn Esguerra-Gomez and Advisors, Dr. Maria Glofezita Lagayan and Beatriz Quiambao.

Members of the TWG group actively participated during the meeting. Presentation of data and facts about the rabies situation in every region was discussed.

After the meeting, some of the members met with the President of Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Pulilan, Mr. Dennis Cruz who maintains a dog impounding facility in their barangay.

Oita University Medical Student, Rabies Laboratory internship

Mr Aoki who is a 4th-grade medical student at Oita University.
He started his internship in the Philippines and his student research project.
The main objective of his student`s research is to optimize the real-time RT-PCR method for rabies diagnosis in San Lazaro Hospital.

Local staffs are teaching how to perform PCR. He enjoys the laboratory works and life in Metro Manila. He is a kickboxer and every day he goes to Boxing gym near his apartment here.

Good luck!

Turnover ceremony in Histopathology

On May 11, Histopathology laboratory of RITM accepted the four equipment donated by JAPOHR/JICA.

These four machines are followings: Tissue processing machine, Embedding Center, Microtome, and Autostainer.

Dr. Celia Carlos, Director of RITM, Dr. Beatriz Quiambao, Chief of Clinical Research Division and Principal Investigator of JAPOHR (Philippines side), Dr. Alpha Grace B Cavic, Deputy Chef of Laboratory Research Division, and Dr. Sheila Esposo, Section Head of Histopathology has expressed thanks to Dr. Akira Nishizono, Oita University and Principal Investigator of JAPOHR (Japan side).

Dr. Carlos said that these machines "would help diagnostic capabilities in routine diagnosis in RITM."
"We expect these machines would be not only providing technology for improving routine histopathological diagnosis but also contributing to rabies diagnosis in ensuring our project." Dr. Nnishizono said in responding to this.

Region III rabies task force meeting

On the 25th April 2019
FMD/RABIES/AI/AMR INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE MEETING was held in depart of agriculture regional field unit III San Fernando, Pampanga

This meeting is a regular and quarterly meeting held by the department of agriculture regional field office.
Participants are provincial/city/municipal veterinarians and discuss rabies programs.

Dr Nobuo SAITO was invited as a speaker with the title "Strategies how Japan eliminated rabies and maintain freedom and JAPOHR"
He explained how Japan eliminated rabies in past years and showed JAPOHR projects.

JICA President visit RITM and JAPOHR project

Mr. Shinichi Kitaoka who is President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency visited RITM and JAPOHR project on the 11th April 2019. 

The main purpose of the visit to understand the JAPOHR projects and RITM roles. Director (Dr. Carlos) in RITM and deputy chief advisor (Dr Saito) of JAPOHR project explained RITM and JAPOHR project. 

He visited several areas relating to JAPOHR projects (new BSL3, Animal bite treatment centre, Rabies room in the hospital, animal dissection room, and the laboratories)

Mr Kitaoka stated that this project surely can contribute to rabies elimination program in the Philippines and express the expectation to the project. 

JICA official homepage: JICA President visit Philippines 
https://www.jica.go.jp/press/2019/20190418_10.html  

RABIES AWARENESS FORUM in Bulacan

Rabies awareness forum in Bulacan was held. All stakeholders from grassroots to provincial level joined the meeting (PHO, PVO, Municipal/ City Veterinary, Rabies Doctor/ Nurse Coordinator in LGU and Public Hospitals, Barangay Health workers President per LGU, Barangay Captains ( ABC))

Dr Saito (Deputy chief advisor of JAPOHR project) present JAPOHR Bulacan project. There were huge and supportive responses during the meeting. All are so excited to develop "Bulacan model" and expand the model to all over the Philippines.

First meeting for Bulacan project

On the 25th March, First meeting for Bulacan project was held.

All stakeholders (DA-BAI, Bulacan PVO, PHO, DOH region3, DA region3-reginal animal diagnostic laboratory, RITM, JICA-Oita University) attended the meeting.

A meaningful meeting took place and all were excited to start JAPOHR-Bulacan project.

DA-BAI rabies program manager, Dr Joy, presented a draft concept of the project:  RaDSS (Rabies Data Share system ) and RNM (Rabies network model).

The concept is to share the result of rabies dog on real-time using the data share system and leads to strong intervention.