Early Years Intervention for Pre-School Children

27 Mar 2014

On Friday, February 28, the mornings' activities for the pre-school children at Barangay Kanluran Day Care Center in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, Philippines, had the theme of rabies prevention.

While the children were coloring, playing games and listening to stories, their parents had the chance to talk with and ask questions to City Veterinarian, Dr. Joseph Milko Bustamente and City Health Office Rabies Control Officer, Dr. Catherine Haynes.

Si Bantay at Ako, MagkaibigangTotoo (My Dog and I: Buddies for Life) is a package of rabies and dog-bite prevention activities for early years children. It is a pilot initiative in development for GARC’s education model on Early Childhood Intervention.

The aim is to make the very serious message of rabies prevention accessible to those most vulnerable to it. Children are more at risk of rabies than any other group and it is never too early for them to understand how to approach and treat animals safely – that they need to

·      be cautious around unknown animals,

·      report all dog bites and scratches – however small – to an adult, and

·      have a basic awareness of the importance of vaccinating dogs.

Si Bantay at Ako, MagkaibigangTotoo was also held for children at Alfonso Homes II and Sinalhan I Day Care Centers. And a modified version for slightly older children was held at Barangay Labas Elementary School.

A total of 89 children and 90 of their parents took part in the pilot activity, carried out by GARC and its partners from the City Veterinary Office (CVO), City Health Office (CHO), City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) and the City Division of the Department of Education (DepEd).

When it was time to go home, the children left with dog masks and coloring books. We hope they enjoyed the day – they seemed to! – and we certainly did.

Thank you to our partners, and to Barangay Labas Elementary School and Barangay Kanluran, Alfonso Homes II and Sinalhan I Day Care Centers for hosting us, and of course to the children who were so much fun.