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

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.