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Dignitaries and others during the observance of World Rabies Day 2019 in Kohima on September 28. Morung Photo
World Rabies Day observed in Kohima
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 28
The Chief Veterinary Office Kohima in association with Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) today observed World Rabies Day 2019 under the theme ‘Vaccinate to eliminate.’
Speaking on the occasion as the special guest, Dr. Temsümeren Ao, Director Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Nagaland said that the World Rabies Day is celebrated annually on September 28 to mark the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, a French chemist & microbiologist who developed the first rabies vaccine.
The World Rabies Day aims to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals, provide information and advice on how to prevent the disease in at-risk communities, and support advocacy for increased efforts in rabies control.
He said the theme of the World Rabies Day 2019 is ‘Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate’.
“It is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight the progress in defeating this horrifying disease,” the director said.
He said the World Rabies Day was set up in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) as a joint initiative with the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), with the co-sponsorship of WHO and the OlE, and the support of the Pan-American Health Organisation(PAHO) and the FAO to raise global awareness about rabies to provide information on how to prevent the disease.
The director said that the global adoption of 2030 as the goal for the elimination of rabies as a public health threat has led to even greater opportunities for World Rabies Day to make a sustainable impact on rabies, by bringing the attention of policy makers and donors to the ongoing situation and elimination efforts in rabies endemic countries.
The rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva and nervous tissue of an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal, it has one of the highest case fatality rates of any disease. However, rabies is also 100% preventable through mass vaccination of dog populations, the director said adding that rabies is notifiable disease.
More than 99% of all rabies cases in humans are transmitted from dogs. Despite proven methods of elimination, an estimated 1,59,000 people die each year due to dog-transmitted rabies, with over 95% of these deaths occurring in developing worlds like Asia and Africa,” the Director said.
“Along with the global adoption of 2030 as the goal for the elimination of rabies as a public health threat, we the government departments, Municipalities, Town Councils & Village Councils and all the stakeholders together should co-ordinate and co- operate for compulsory registration and mass vaccination of the dogs in order to eliminate rabies forever,” he said.
Earlier, Zakiekhotuo Kiso, KMC secretary talked on the activities of veterinary cell in the KMC.
The unction was chaired by Kohima VCO Dr. Joseph M. Angami while vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Ketholenuo Metha, deputy director AH &VS Nagaland and Veterinary Executive Officer, KMC.
The function was followed by free anti rabies vaccination at High School Junction (L Khel market), Veterinary Hospital Kohima, Pezielietsie, KMC Office, Main town, Merhulietsa panchayat, Para medical colony, AG Colony panchayat, Tennis court, New Reserve and Old Minister's Hill panchayat.
