The City Health Office (CHO) is reminding Dabawenyos anew that the city has eight (8) satellite Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTC) situated in different districts to ensure accessibility to anti-rabies vaccines for humans in areas located far from downtown Davao.
Dr. Annaliza Malubay, Medical Officer IV of the ABTC, said during the I-Speak Media Forum on Thursday that due to the volume of patients seeking their services, the city saw the need to establish satellite ABTCs in other districts to ensure accessibility for Dabawenyos living far from the main ABTC on Magallanes. Other than their main office on Magallanes St., there are also ABTCs located in Toril; Mintal; Calinan District; Marilog District; Angliongto, Sasa; Tibungco, Bunawan District; and Paquibato.
“Due to the volume of patients seeking our services, we cannot accommodate all of them. But what the office is doing is we are opening more satellite Animal Bite Centers. In Davao City, we already have 8: in Magallanes; ABTC in Toril in Agton Street; ABTC Mintal Health Center; ABTC Calinan District Barangay; ABTC in Marilog Dist. which is also open on Saturdays; ABTC Anglionto, Sasa; ABTC in Tibungco Lying In, Bunawan District; and in Paquibato District,” she said.
According to Malubay, on average their main office caters to 300–350 patients per day for both post-prophylaxis vaccination and consultation. Considering the influx of patients, Malubay said that Dabawenyos can also opt to avail of free anti-rabies vaccination and consultations at the satellite clinics.
Meanwhile, Malubay also said that for the first quarter of 2024, the ABTC has not recorded any human deaths due to rabies.
In 2023, Davao City recorded 4 human deaths caused by the rabies virus, which was significantly lower than in 2022, when the city recorded 12 deaths.
Malubay continues to urge patients bitten by cats or dogs to observe the biting animal for 14 days. She also urged the patients to get three (3) doses of anti-rabies vaccine to ensure its effectiveness.
Dabawenyos are also reminded to wash the bitten area for 10 to 15 minutes with running water and soap as first aid to wash the virus off. Malubay explained that the rabies virus does not immediately spread; rather, it stays within the wound perimeter thus the need to have the wound washed with running water.
Malubay also discouraged the use of unconventional methods like rubbing garlic on the wound as this causes more harm to the patient.
The CHO urged Dabawenyos anew to visit the nearest Animal Bite Treatment Center in their area and finish their anti-rabies vaccination to ensure that they are protected from the disease. Residents in need of medical assistance from the ABTC may visit the nearest satellite clinic or call their numbers: 241-1000 Local 344 for the ABTC Main Magallanes; 296-4578 for ABTC Toril; 09555074753 for ABTC Mintal Health Center; 09983927582 or 298-8002 for ABTC Calinan; 09065843620 for ABTC Marilog District Hospital; 09258243305 for ABTC Angliongto, Sasa District; 09286097916 or 09776559699 for ABTC Bunawan; and 09065843620 for ABTC Paquibato. CIO
