The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Centre clears rabies control project

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Saturday, Jul 05, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Centre clears rabies control project

Shastry V. Mallady

Madurai among five places chosen for project

Dog bite cases are reported more in Madurai region
WHO likely to extend financial support at later stage

MADURAI: A comprehensive rabies control programme supported by Government of India is to be implemented in the State in view of more people getting affected by dog bite.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases has cleared ‘a pilot project on prevention and control of human rabies’ for five places in the country -- Madurai, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad and New Delhi -- and conducted a training session for health officials. Two officials from the State, including the Deputy Director of Health Services (Madurai), attended the trainers’ meeting, and would, in turn, conduct sessions for health officials of other districts. The World Health Organisation is likely to extend financial support at a later stage for creating necessary infrastructure.

“The dog bite cases are reported more in Madurai region. Infection control, tackling the menace of stray dogs and public awareness are some of the issues to be addressed,” S. Elango, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said when contacted.

The Madurai Corporation launched Animal Birth Control programme in April 2006 with the support of Animal Welfare Board of India to sterilise nearly 8,000 stray dogs in 72 wards in the city. The sterilised dogs were given pre and post-operative care in this civic body project.

The Directorate of Public Health, according to Dr. Elango, has taken steps for availability of rabies vaccine at all Primary Health Centres, district and taluk hospitals. A. Palanichamy, Deputy Director of Health Services (Madurai), along with K. Jayakumar, Joint Director (Vector Borne Diseases), attended the training programme in New Delhi.

S. M. Sivakumar, Dean, GRH, said the hospital, which caters to southern districts, treated 8 to 10 dog bite cases per day and the State government had been making a separate fund allocation of Rs.30 lakh for every six months to ensure procurement of anti-rabies vaccine.

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