Date :7/22/2023
Press Release on 22nd July 2023Mass Dog Vaccination under National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination from India by 2030
Commissioner, JMC, Sh. Rahul Yadav, IAS today chaired a meeting regarding Mass Dog vaccination under National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination from India by 2030 (NAP-RE) Thematic Area 3- PREVENTION AND CONTROL where Joint Director, ARV (AHD) Jammu, Dr. Syed Altaf Ali, Health Officer, JMC, Dr. Vinod Sharma, Municipal Veterinary Officer, JMC, Dr. Sushil Kumar Sharma, VAS, JMC, Dr. Divya Sharma, VAS, MACC, Roop Nagar, Dr. Sandeep Kotwal, Miss Namrata Hakoo, Chairperson Hakoo Street Animal Foundation & various Animal welfare volunteers viz. Sh. Muneesh Sharma, Advocate Vineet Kour, Sh. Anmol Mahajan, Dr. Isham Kohli etc. from different wards of JMC were present.
The meeting was aimed to conduct mass dog vaccination program in Jammu city as per the action plan prepared by Health & Medical Education Department, J&K. In the meeting, threadbare discussions were held to cover all the issues related to management & control of street dog population within JMC limits as well as to chalk out the plan/ strategy for implementation of action plan regarding Mass Dog vaccination under National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination from India by 2030.
MVO, JMC, Dr. Sushil Kumar Sharma briefed about the initiatives taken by JMC for effective management of street dog population within JMC limits. Jammu Municipal Corporation is already running its ABC/ ARV programme in collaboration with Friendicoes-SECA at MACC, Roop Nagar, Jammu for all the 75 wards of JMC. Further, he appraised that till date more than 33,000 street dog population within JMC limits has been sterilized/ vaccinated under the said programme in an estimated stray dog population of approximately 43,540 (+/- 5 to 10% margin).
Further, VAS, JMC, Dr. Divya Sharma conveyed that Rabies is a vaccine prevented zoonotic viral disease effecting the CNS. According to WHO, dogs are the main source of human rabies contributing upto 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans. India is endemic for rabies and accounts for about 36% of world’s rabies death. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating dogs seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.
Joint Director, ARV (AHD) Jammu, Dr. Syed Altaf Ali assured that for smooth conduct of this program, Anti-rabies vaccinations will be provided by Animal Husbandry Department at subsidized rates. Further, he informed that Animal Husbandry Department will also provide the necessary technical assistance to JMC for the effective implementation of this program.
Commissioner, JMC advised for coordinated & strategic approach for successful conduct of mass vaccination program in street dog population in collaboration with Animal Husbandry Department, Jammu & it should be conducted on a ward wise basis with the help of local animal volunteers/ Animal Activists & local Animal welfare organizations working for the cause of animals. He also directed the Veterinary section of JMC to design a comprehensive action plan on ward wise basis for successful implementation of this mass vaccination program to create Rabies free dog population in Jammu city.