The Department of Health (DOH) regards rabies as a significant public health problem due to it being one of the most acutely fatal infections. It is responsible for 200-300 deaths of Filipinos annually.
To address this issue, pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines, through their Animal Health arm, collaborates with the government in observing March as Rabies Awareness Month (RAM). To encourage public participation, Boehringer Ingelheim has launched a RAM photo wall at NAIA Terminal 2 where pet owners can capture and share their photos on social media.
Dr. Apple Nagera, Head of Business Segment – Pets for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. emphasized the significance of raising awareness about rabies and the importance of vaccination for both pets and their owners. “Our RAM photo wall is an excellent opportunity for pet owners to showcase their love for their furry companions and to spread the word about this serious health issue. By using the hashtags #RabiesFreePHand #FunWithPetsAwaitWhenWeVaccinate, pet owners can help raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and show their support for our mission to make the Philippines rabies-free.”
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. is committed to its partnership with the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP) and its attached agencies, the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Education (DepEd) in achieving the program aim of “Rabies-free na pusa’t aso, kaligtasan ng pamilyang Pilipino”.
To join the campaign, participants can have their photo(s) taken with the RAM Photo Wall as the backdrop. Post it on their Facebook (FB) Wall with a caption on how they can help make the Philippines Rabies Free. The participants are reminded to set their posts to “Public” and to tag the FB pages of Boehringer Ingelheim Pets PH and the Veterinary Quarantine Services – NAIA, while using the hashtags #RabiesFreePH and #FunWithPetsAwaitWhenWeVaccinate. Ten (10) posts with the most positive reactions will be chosen per week throughout March, making a total of 40 lucky winners who will receive a travel essential kit for their pets.
The Philippines is one of the top 10 countries worldwide with a rabies problem. Recent statistics from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) notes the increase of rabies cases in the country, from 1,038 in 2021 to 1,160 in 2022. Human rabies also showed a rise, from 228 in 2021 to 305 cases in 2022.
