TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte (PIA) — Medical experts have warned against the so-called “Tandok” in managing animal bites, citing this as unscientific and not sanctioned by the Department of Health (DOH).
As guests of the latest episode of Kapihan sa DavNor, Davao del Norte Provincial Health Office, Medical Officer IV, Dr. Josephine Therese Parreñas, and Tagum City Health Officer (CHO), Dr. Arnel Florendo strongly raised this prohibition among animal bite patients.
While highly recommending soap and water, and antiseptics as the first step of animal bite management, both doctors warned against Tandok, and applying mashed spices such as garlic as rubs on animal bites.
“Naa tay mga ginadili, dapat dili buhaton sa samad, sama sa pagpudpud ug mga lamas ug magpatandok (We have prohibition not to do on the wound like mashing spices and having tandok),” she said.
She also discouraged squeezing out blood as this would enlarge the animal bite wound.
Meanwhile, Dr. Florendo revealed that his office had kept records of history of animal bite patients who divulged to have sought tandok practitioner instead of directly seeking rabies vaccine at the nearest animal bite center.
“I would like to warn everybody about aning tandok., this is not effective , this is not proven. In fact daghan mi’g pacenyete, na mi’y previous ng mga patients nga nagpatandok nga nagka-rabies. Based sa among history, daghan na sila. Kadto pong naga tandok diri sa tagum city hangyoon ta mo.. ayaw na siya… kay dili na siya sanctioned practice sa Department of Health,” he said.
[I would like to warn everybody about this Tandok, this is not effective , this is not proven. In fact, we have a number of patients; we have previous patients who sought tandok and then had rabies. Based on our history, there are a number of them. Those who do Tandok in Tagum City, I am asking you not to do that because that is not a sanctioned practice by the Department of Health.]
Dr. Florendo was aware of the possible wrath of Tandok practitioners of his call but he felt obliged to do so due to the high number of Rabies cases in 2024 that goes along with the number of reported animal bites.
“I know kadtong nagpractice ug tandok., mangasuko man mo bahala na mo (… those who are practicing Tandok, you’d get mad, it’s up to you) but I am obliged to tell you as the city health officer of Tagum , I am obliged to tell kay dili na siya (that is not) sanctioned, dili (not) safe, dili (not) sanctioned (by) sa DOH, walay scientific basis (there’s no basis),” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Florendo revealed on the same Kapihan talk show, that CHO Tagum registered a total of four rabies cases that all led to death.
Dr. Parreñas said PHO Davao del Norte recorded 13 (including the four recorded in Tagum City); while Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) Animal Bite Treatment Center recorded 32 cases.
Dr. Aya Alterado, DRMC Rabies coordinator said 13 of the total DRMC cases in 2024 were from Davao del Norte, 10, Davao de Oro; 6, Davao Oriental; one, Davao Occidental; and 2 from Agusan del Sur.
The three doctors were one in saying that all cases of rabies led to death. Though efforts are massive on preventing rabies infection, they admitted nothing can be done to anyone contracting rabies.
“ We are moving towards the aspect of prevention. … Kung nagka rabies na ang tao, please doctor lang mi, dili mi guinoo. ‘Di namo kaya buhion. Kung naa na gani na, 100% percent ang fatality. Luoy pa jud kaayo ang pasyente nga nagka-rabies, kung nakita pa lang unta ninyo, especially ang mga bata,” Dr. Florendo said.
[…. If a person contracted rabies, please, we are only doctors, we are not gods; we cannot restore lives; If acquired, the fatality is 100 percent. Situations of rabies patients are pitiful, if you only had seen them, especially the children.] (JMDA, PIA XI)
