Henok Buchem, Krodi Rhetso and others at the World Rabies Day 2026 in Kohima on September 28. (Morung Photo)
Dog shelter to be operational in Kohima by October
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 28
The Chief Veterinary Office, Kohima, in collaboration with Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Kohima, National Rabies Control Programme (MRCP), Department of Health & Family Welfare today observed World Rabies Day 2026 at Veterinary Hospital, Tinpatti, Kohima. Similar events were also held across the state.
Held under the theme "Stronger Together," the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility among communities, veterinary professionals, healthcare workers, local authorities and animal welfare organisations have been highlighted at the programme to achieve a rabies-free India.
Addressing the gathering, B. Henok Buchem, Deputy Commissioner Kohima & President SPCA, Kohima, said that there is no complaint about having stray dogs in Kohima “but we have dogs which are roaming freely and which are a menace and a health hazard to our people.”
He said that the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) will come up with one regulatory order soon while the district authority will too come up with certain preventive measures.
KMC has committed that dog shelter will be operational in Kohima by middle part of October.
“This team will go around and catch any dogs that are roaming around freely,” he said adding that the district administration will give them full authority to exercise action.
All the feeds and maintenance will be at the cost of the owner, till it is taken away, he said.
Buchem said that two vaccination camps will be initiated in all the 19 wards, adding that every dog has to be vaccinated.
Krodi Rhetso, Sr. SP Kohima & Vice-President SPCA, Kohima also spoke at the programme.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Ketholenuo Metha, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Kohima while Dr. Auto V, Deputy Director proposed vote of thanks..
The programme was followed by free anti-rabies vaccination for pets.
Dog bite scenario in Nagaland
Highlighting the dog bite scenario in Nagaland, Dr. Nounengulie Kire, MBBS,MPH (ICMR-NIE), Public Health Specialist, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare said that dog bite cases showed an increasing trend as per IHIP-IDSP reports from 2021-2025.
NRCP reports show Dimapur has the highest burden followed by Kohima, he said adding that almost one thirds of the dog bite cases in children age <10yrs followed by 10-19yrs.
He said that bites from stray dogs were also reported from Dimapur, Kohima, Longleng & Wokha, Later, it was corrected that the stray dog bite reported were pet dogs which were not kept on a leash.
Another feature noticed in the timeline of reported rabies deaths in 2024 and May2025, all the cases have shown a delay in seeking treatment or even getting PEP(Post Exposure Prophylaxis) after a dog bite, Dr. Kire said.
He stressed on the need to adopt one health approach and intersectoral coordination for Health, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, Forest & Wildlife, Education, Municipal/ULB and Village/Colony councils to promote awareness and vaccination drives, dog bite management and surveillance to ensure timely detection and treatment.
Mentionably, the Department of Health & Family Welfare launched the State Action Plan on Rabies Elimination (SAPRE) by V.Hekali Zhimomi, Addl. Secretary, MoHFW-GOI at NCDC, DGHS, MoHFW, New Delhi on 29th September, 2025.
He said that an estimated 20,000 human rabies deaths and 17.4 million animal bites occur per year.
India accounts for the most deaths in Asia (59.9% of human rabies deaths) and globally (35% of human rabies deaths).
Dr. Kire said that National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) launched in 2021 with the aim to reduce mortality due to Rabies among human beings and progressively achieving the Global Target of reducing deaths due to Rabies “ Zero by 30 ” and to prevent deaths due to Human Rabies.
