World Rabies Day 2009 Observed

“Awareness is the best defense against Rabies” was the slogan raised in the rally flagged off by Sri. C. Jayan Babu, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram from Raktha Sakshi Mandapam to Press Club as part of the World Rabies Day Observance on September 28, 2009. The rally was lead by Dr. Thomas Mathew, Secretary General, APCRI and Nodal Officer, State Disease Control and Monitoring Cell, along with representatives from health services and other voluntary organizations working in the field of rabies control. The band service of the children from Sree Chithra Poor Home made the rally lively and rhythmic.

The rally was followed by the inauguration of The World Rabies Day State level by Sri. C. Divakaran, Honorable Minister for Husbandry, Food and Civil Supplies, Kerala. Dr. R. Vijayakumar, Director of Animal Husbandry Kerala, welcomed the gathering and Dr. A. P. S Nair, president, IVA; delivered the key note address. Sri. S. B. Jayaprasad, Chairman, Kerala State Pollution Control Board; Sri. A. Vikraman Nair, Additional Secretary, Animal Husbandry; Dr. Theodore John, President, KVSSA; Dr. Sukumara Pillai, president, AHOAK; Sri. G. Prakasam, Special Officer to MD, KMSCL and Dr. N. Ajayan, DAHO; felicitated in the inaugural ceremony. This was followed by the workshop on Rabies Control, inaugurated by Sri. S. M. Vijayanand IAS, Principal Secretary, LSGD and chaired by Dr. V. Ramkumar, Former Secretary, VCI; Dr. R. Vijayakumar, Director, Animal Husbandry Dept. and Dr. N. N. Sasi, Registrar, Kerala State Veterinary Council. The workshop aimed at developing a comprehensive strategy for the control of rabies in the State and to develop a road map to achieve a rabies-free State. The Indian Veterinary Association along with the Alliance for Rabies Control; the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India; NRHM; Animal Husbandry Department; Kerala State Veterinary Council; Department of Health Services and the Local Self Government Department were the major representatives of the workshop.

Dr. Thomas Mathew, Nodal Officer, IDRV, NRHM; Dr. Rani S. S., Additional Director, Animal Husbandry Department and Dr. Jacob Alexander, Secretary, IVA made presentations on Strategy for Control of Rabies. Rabies is 100% fatal and 100% preventable and therefore intersectoral cooperation and community participation can control rabies in the state.

1. Dr.Jacob Alexander says:

   November 18, 2009 at 5:46 pm

   Great effort. My congratulations to the team and best wishes to accomplish the dream…