Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant move to consolidate its status as a rabies-controlled state, the Government of Goa is set to initiate a comprehensive rabies vaccination and awareness campaign. This large-scale initiative, slated to begin in Colvale, aims to ensure that the state remains free from the deadly disease, particularly in border areas shared with Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The campaign will involve a robust team of 32 vaccination teams, supported by 12 international volunteers and over 1,500 local manpower. The multifaceted approach includes not only dog vaccination but also dog sterilization, street plays, student rallies, and extensive digital awareness campaigns. This integrated strategy is designed to engage the community at multiple levels, ensuring maximum participation and awareness.
Minister for Animal Husbandry, Nilkanth Halarnkar, has termed this initiative the “Final Rabies Generation,” emphasizing the state’s commitment to preventing any resurgence of the disease. “We have achieved 100% rabies vaccination, but since we share borders with Maharashtra and Karnataka, we cannot take the risk of the disease spreading again,” Minister Halarnkar explained. He also highlighted the increasing birth rate of street dogs and the need for sterilization, which has been agreed upon with the World Animal Veterinary Service (WAVS).
The sterilization component is a critical aspect of the campaign, as it addresses the root cause of the increasing street dog population. By sterilizing dogs during the vaccination process, the government aims to reduce the number of stray dogs and subsequently lower the risk of rabies transmission. This approach is expected to cover the entire Bardez area within eight days, with a plea to the public to help identify dogs for the program.
The campaign’s success hinges on community participation, and various measures have been taken to ensure this. Street plays and student rallies will be organized to raise awareness about the importance of rabies vaccination and dog sterilization.
Digital awareness campaigns will also be launched to reach a wider audience, especially in rural and peri-urban areas where access to information might be limited.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Goa government, WAVS, and other stakeholders. Minister Halarnkar expressed gratitude to the Rabies Mission and WAVS for their hard work in achieving 100% sterilization and vaccination.
This collaboration underscores the importance of partnerships in public health initiatives, particularly in combating zoonotic diseases like rabies.
Rabies is one of the most lethal infectious diseases, with a nearly 100% fatality rate if left untreated.
In many regions, including parts of Asia and Africa, rabies remains endemic due to low herd immunity in dog populations and the prevalence of free-roaming dogs. Goa’s proactive approach not only protects its citizens but also sets a precedent for other states and countries to follow in their efforts to eliminate rabies.
A large-scale rabies vaccination and awareness campaign will begin at Colvale, involving 32 vaccination teams, 12 international volunteers, and over 1,500 manpower.
The initiative includes dog sterilization, street plays, student rallies, and digital awareness campaigns. With Goa declared a rabies-controlled state, officials aim to prevent cases from spreading in border areas. Minister Nilkhant Halarnkar termed the initiative the “Final Rabies Generation.”
“We have done a hundred per cent rabies vaccination but we realised that since we share borders with Maharashtra and Karnata, we cannot take the risk of spreading of the disease again,” said Minister for Animal Husbandry Nilkanth Halarnkar.
We find that the birth rate of a street dog is increasing and we suggested to WAVS and they agreed to do sterilisation during vaccination, he said.
“We will cover Bardez in 8 days’ time. We appeal to people to help us identify the dogs so that the issue is solved once and forever. I thank Rabies Mission and WAVS for working hard to achieve 100 p.c sterilisation and vaccination,” he said.
