DOH runs out of anti-rabies vaccines Police reg’l chief warns erring cops
CEBU CITY — The Department of Health-Region 7 (DOH-7) has announced that it has run out of anti-rabies vaccines.
The shortage of anti-rabies vaccines was caused by the increasing number of animal and canine bites and the temporary suspension of DOH’s procurement of World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified vaccine called Rabipur.
“The sudden increase in the demand for the anti-rabies vaccines has caused major disruption in the supply of the other WHO prequalified vaccine, Verorab,” Jaime Bernadas, regional director of DOH-7, said in a statement.
Bernadas added that currently, there is no available anti-rabies vaccine in the Cold Chain Unit of DOH-7 in Cebu City.
With the shortage, the Office for Technical Services has informed the Animal Bites Treatment Centers, local government units and the public that procurement of non-WHO prequalified vaccines can be done while the WHO prequalified vaccines are still unavailable commercially.
The DOH, however, reminded that procuring of non-WHO prequalified vaccine is allowed if the vaccine is approved by Food and Drug Administration and is contained in the dossier of recommended anti-rabies vaccines of DOH.
“In the event that the availability of WHO prequalified vaccines is restored in the market, the DOH shall revert its recommendations to the previous specifications,” said Bernadas.
Because of the shortage, the DOH reiterated the need for the enhancement and strengthening of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) on responsible animal ownership.
The DOH-7 is also asking the assistance the LGU’s veterinary and agriculture offices for the conduct of mass dog vaccination and control of the stray dog population.
The DOH-7 noted that in the past decade, there were 92,769 cases of animal and canine bites in Region 7 while 21 cases of human rabies were recorded.
CEBU CITY — Erring policemen should reform or face the full force of the law, Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, director of the Police Regional OfficeCentral Visayas (PRO-7), warned yesterday in his speech at the 120th celebration of the Independence Day yesterday at the PRO-7 Headquarters.
“Our laws are absolute. It spares no one, even if you are a policeman, if you violate the law, you will suffer,” said Sinas in his speech.
Sinas issued the warning two days after Senior Insp. Raymond Hortezuela was killed in a drug buybust operation in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City.
Hortezuela was accused of being a drug protector, an allegation that his family has denied.
Hortezuela was assigned in the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office. He was also a former station commander at the Guadalupe Police Station in Cebu City.
During the Independence Day celebrations, Sinas reminded his men that engaging in illegal activities will not only affect their careers but also their families.
“You know your job, if you will not stop, you and your family will suffer,” said Sinas.
Sinas said it is not yet too late for erring policemen to reform. “If you want to change, you must change now. We will give you a second chance.”
He emphasized that he will focus on instilling discipline and getting rid the PRO-7 of police scalawags.
“We strive to clean our names. That is why, we need to be serious in serving and protecting the nation and its people,” he said. (Larnie Bacalando and Calvin Cordova)