The Department of Health (DOH) is advising individuals bitten or scratched by dogs or cats to immediately consult any of the 52 certified Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) across the Negros Island Region (NIR). This reminder coincides with the observance of World Rabies Day on September 28, themed “Act Now: You, Me, Community.”
“Rabies is deadly, but it is 100 percent preventable with proper action and prompt treatment,” the DOH-NIR said in an advisory issued Monday.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) offers a benefit package covering services against rabies at accredited ABTC providers. The PHP5,850 Animal Bite Treatment (ABT) package includes essential post-exposure prophylaxis such as rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin, local wound care, tetanus toxoid and anti-tetanus serum, antibiotics, and medical supplies.
In Bacolod City, the two certified ABTCs are Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and the Bacolod City Health Office. Siquijor has two centers: Siquijor Provincial Hospital and Lazi Medicare Community Hospital.
Negros Occidental hosts 24 ABTCs, including facilities in Bago City, Binalbagan, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, Escalante City, Vicente Gustilo District Hospital, Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Manapla, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Silay City, Sipalay City, Talisay City, Valladolid District Hospital, and Victorias City.
Negros Oriental also has 24 ABTCs, including Ayungon, Bacong, Bais District Hospital, Bayawan District Hospital and City Health Office, Bindoy District Hospital, Canlaon City Health Office, Dauin, Dumaguete City Health Office, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, Guihulngan City Health Office, Governor William Villegas Memorial Hospital, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Mabinay Medicare Community Hospital, Pamplona, San Jose, Cong. Lamberto L. Macias Memorial Hospital, Sibulan, Sta. Catalina, Tanjay Urgent Care Clinic, Valencia, and Zamboanguita.
The DOH encourages the public to act promptly and seek treatment at these centers to prevent rabies, a fatal but preventable disease.
