Your Work
Where do you work?
I work as a Municipal Livestock Coordinator in a small, far flung municipality composed of 22 villages in the northern part of the Philippine Island.
When did you start your work?
2000
What rabies elimination work do you do?
I'm Liza, a Rabies Advocate from a small village in the northern part of the Philippine island. She works as an Agricultural Technologist and designated as Municipal Livestock Coordinator and certified as Rabies rabies educator. In her 24 years in the government service, she works in the prevention and control of rabies in their municipality. Yearly, she conducts different symposiums, small group discussions, and seminars about rabies for schoolchildren as well as adults. In 2023, she educated a total of 1,263 schoolchildren and 150 adults. She was also tapped as a resource speaker about rabies on radio stations through the School on the Air Program, a local radio broadcast featuring different topics, including rabies. Beside airing to the three different local stations, it is simultaneously aired across the social media through Facebook Live, reaching more than one thousand three hundred views. Aside from being a certified rabies educator, she is also involved in mass vaccination activities. This is done yearly to protect dogs and cats from rabies. In 2023, through the joint effort of her team, they were able to vaccinate 2,004 dogs and 144 cats.
Your Work in Numbers
Number of animals vaccinated against rabies (last year) 2148
Number of children educated (last year) 1263
Number of adults educated (last year) 150
Number (Other) last year: Radio and Facebook Live (School on the Air listeners) - 1300
Your Work's Impact
In an effort of the Municipal Agriculture Office to reduce the impact and eliminate rabies by 2030, the organization has strengthened and doubled its efforts in eradicating this dreadful disease. In a press release by the Department of Agriculture on May 7, 2024 (via Philstar.com), at least one Filipino died daily in 2023 due to rabies.
That's why the organization has come up with a strategy and targeted at least 70 percent of the schoolchildren studying both in public and private elementary schools to be educated on rabies as well as to their parents. The main goal of these information education campaigns is to create awareness on their end and increase their knowledge and understanding of the disease and how they will respond if they are bitten by dogs, thus reducing the risk of rabies among children. On the other hand, on the side of the parents or guardians, increasing their awareness and understanding will eventually change their behaviors and beliefs, resulting in a clearer understanding of their children so that they will not be afraid to tell their parents in case they are bitten and encouraging them to seek medical treatment for their children in case of dog bites.
In addition, the School on the Air Program over the radio and social media like Facebook also plays a vital role in educating adults. This medium caters to a broader and wider audience who have no time to attend face-to-face discussions. School on the Air is a distant and self-paced learning modality for adult learners who are interested in various topics, including rabies.
On the other hand, an annual mass dog and cat vaccination in the 22 villagers, accomplishing at least 70 percent of their dog population, may decrease the risks of rabies on animals and humans.
Partners
Government partners
Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, Agricultural Training Institute and the Municipal Government of Solsona
Government collaboration:
24 years collaborating with the said government agencies
NGO Partners
Global Alliance for Rabies Control
Barangay Animal Health Workers
Barangay Health Workers
NGO collaboration:
GARC from 2013-2016 through the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte. Other NGOS is from 2010- present
Other partners
Mariano Marcos State University
Other collaboration:
15 years
Innovations and Learnings
What is innovative about your approach?
In teaching these children, we are not confined in the traditional way. Instead, we came up with new ideas in order to make their learning experiences more participative and enjoyable. At the end of every discussion, there is a segment called Dramatized Me, or the reenactment or role-playing of the topic being discussed with them. We also used audiovisual presentations and the question and answer portion with a twist. One learner has to ask a relevant question about the topic to his classmate, and every correct answer is equivalent to a prize. This strategy is useful in order for them to participate more. Same with adult learners; we see to it that every session they are having fun while learning
Lessons learned (Positive)
Being in this profession or calling is not always a bed of roses, there are times that disapproval strikes. Here are some of the valuable lessons I've learned over the years practicing this profession of educating people.
1. Our labor is not in vain. Seeing people transform their beliefs and perspectives about rabies is a self rewarding experience.
2. Good teamwork is important. It is worth working with other people with whom you share the same advocacy and beliefs. Learning that by working together as a team, we can achieve something great.
3. Never be afraid to innovate. Trying something new is awesome. If our strategies in the past did not work as we expected, let us not be afraid to try and test another method of teaching.
4. Love your work. Let us give our 100 percent in everything we do. For sure, our work will love us more.
5. Trust God for wisdom. Every thing we have is from God. He is the giver of wisdom so that we can share our expertise with others.
Lessons learned (Negative)
The limitation of funds to implement and sustain the program is one of the biggest constraints in the implementation of the rabies program, especially in those developing countries like the Philippines. Good project proposals were not funded because of struggling budget
** All information adapted from the submitted nomination form**
