The UM College of Nursing Student Government

Call for Participants in the Anti-Rabies
Campaign Program

Rabies has been around for over 4,000 years, however, until the present time, it continuously threaten communities. Rabies is caused by a virus which is a microorganism smaller than a bacteria. A virus cannot grow unless it is inside a living cell. The rabies virus can get into your body and attack your central nervous system and can result to serious organ damage. Although, rabies is 100% preventable, World Health Organization (2009) documented at least 55,000 humans die from rabies each year around the world and mostly from exposure to dogs. If someone is sick with rabies, nearly 100% of the time, it will result in death. A person dies of rabies almost every 10 minutes. Almost half of all rabies deaths occur in children under the age of 15 years. Many developed countries have vaccines for animals and humans to prevent rabies.

September 28, 2009 was the Celebration of the World Rabies Day! Government and non-government organizations normally initiates activities that can help mitigate the problems related to rabies. The CSG the College of Nursing initiated month-long Anti-Rabies Campaign Program entitled Mga “BANTAY” ng Barangay in which aims are: 1. To disseminate significant information about rabies and the human population control of domesticated pets to its target recipients (pet owners, household members; radio listeners; students; etc.); 2. To health educate pet owners on their responsibilities in providing basic immunization to their pets to avoid rabies; 3. To health educate household members regarding the etiology, control, prevention and treatment of rabies; 4. To conduct orientation about “Humane Population Control of Dogs” among selected barangay officials of UM's Partner Communities, Volunteers and “Dog Pounders”; 5.To distribute teaching aids like lesson plans and CDs about rabies, to private and public schools (primary and secondary) within UM partner communities, that can be utilized by the teachers in primary and secondary schools.

Other specific activities that students can participate into are the: radio campaign, print media campaign, distribution of banners and campaign ads, distribution of lesson plans and resource units about rabies, health teachings among adolescent leaders, Purok Leaders as well as Barangay Police members of UM's Partner Communities and finally the 250 Dog Anti-rabies Immunization.

For interested students, activities will continue until next week (October 24, 2009). You may contact any CSG Officers.

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