A strong database on rabies in Bohol would be a huge help as a template for mapping out the country's responses against the canine-borne disease. Dr. Jacob Zinnstag of the Swiss Tropical Institute and a key personality in the Rabies Technical Advisory Group of the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC) pointed this out noting that there have been cursory efforts of town anti-rabies advocates to initiate a database on rabies concerns. Here in Bohol to evaluate the local Rabies Prevention and Elimination Program for funding organization ARC, Dr. Zinnstag said he couldn't help but be amazed at the length of advancement Bohol has achieved in its anti-rabies program.

He also hailed Bohol for an innovation in he extra-ordinary social mobilization as he saw sectors uniting together especially in achieving a 70% registration and vaccination program. He also commended Bohol for coming up with an excellent a dog population control in neutering and spaying which went as high as 35.55%. The program, according to data managed by the office of Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz revealed that about 73.37% of households in Bohol has kept their pets on leashes or are keeping the dogs within their premises. Even then, Dr. Zinnstag however noted that there are yet data, which may not be the showing the actual picture as the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian has not mainstreamed the data gathering and management on rabies.

“You should have a distinct database to come up with a statistical data management capacity,” Dr. Zinnstag said during a meeting Tuesday at the Bohol Tropics Resort. The Swiss doctor explained that a statistical database from these could help Bohol in coming up with cost effective programs in the future and possibly create a template, which other provinces can follow. While fully believing that a database can allow Bohol more accurate statistical projections, Dr. Lapiz also reasoned out that the intention on coming up with a scientific study on rabies was just one of the activities by the local government to come up with measurable quantifiers on its success ratings. Dr. Zinnstag also wished for Bohol's success as it enters a new phase in its rabies program. (racPIABOhol)