Latest news with #NationalRabiesControlProgramme
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Push against diarrhoea deaths in kids
Chandigarh: To safeguard the health of young children in the state, Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday launched the 'STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2025'. The two-month-long initiative aims to prevent mortality among children under five. The minister also unveiled awareness posters. Dr Balbir Singh emphasised: "Diarrhoea is a major cause of child deaths — each one a tragic and avoidable loss. This campaign is our pledge to protect every child with awareness, prevention, and timely treatment." He said the health department would adopt a prevent-protect-treat (PPT) strategy, targeting high-risk monsoon months. The state will deploy door-to-door ORS-Zinc kit distribution through ASHA workers. Besides, ORS-Zinc corners will be established at all health institutions and Anganwadis, and health workers' skills will be enhanced to manage cases effectively. "No child should die from a treatable condition. We are ensuring ORS, Zinc, IV fluids, and antibiotics are available at every health facility," said the minister. Underlining the need for awareness, Dr Balbir Singh he said the campaign prioritises community mobilisation for handwashing, safe drinking water, exclusive breastfeeding, sanitation, and immunisation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urban Ascent by Emaar 4 BHK Apartments Starting at ₹ 5.25 Cr* on Dwarka E-Way , Near Gurugram Emaar India Get Quote Undo "Diarrhoea is preventable — clean hands, clean water, and timely care can save lives," urged the minister. He called for the participation of panchayati raj leaders, self-help groups, teachers, and parents to champion the cause. Dr Balbir Singh said Punjab had been fostering inter-departmental collaboration with education, women child department, water and sanitation, and rural development department to address diarrhoea's root causes. "This is not just a health issue, it's a battle for Punjab's future. Together, we will break the chain of infection," he asserted. The minister made an appeal to keep the surroundings clean, use safe water, and act fast if diarrhoea strikes — start ORS-Zinc immediately and seek medical help. He also advocated drinking local drinks such as lemonade (shikanji) as the intake of liquids is essential for hydration. Fight against rabies A memorandum of understanding (MoU), under the National Rabies Control Programme, was signed between the health department and Peedu – an animal welfare NGO located in Mohali – to facilitate coordinated efforts towards the preparation of the State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination by 2030. The initiative involves the engagement of various stakeholders, along with the training of health staff and counselling sessions at anti-rabies clinics in district Mohali, with the scope for future expansion across the state. MSID:: 122515974 413 |
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
3,460 dog bite cases in Barwani & Khargone
Barwani: A surge in dog bite cases in Barwani and Khargone districts has sparked alarm, with 3,460 incidents reported between April and June this year. Seven persons have succumbed to the bites, with six suspected to have been bitten by wild animals resembling dogs. Despite govt doctors dismissing rabies as the cause, a viscera test confirmed the presence of rabies virus in one of the deceased, suggesting a potential outbreak among both canines and humans. The situation escalated with multiple attacks in late June, including an incident on June 23 where 32 people, including 12 children, were bitten in two places in Khargone district, including Khargone district headquarters. Similar attacks occurred in Barwani, with a single dog biting 16 people in Silawad on June 25. These incidents prompted local authorities to convene emergency meetings to address the crisis. In May, a separate wildlife attack on 17 people in Rajpur subdivision, Barwani, resulted in six deaths. Initially attributed to a rabid dog, the discovery of a jackal carcass later confirmed the involvement of wildlife. This incident highlighted the complexities in distinguishing between wildlife and dog attacks, with significant implications for compensation, as wildlife-related deaths warrant an Rs 8 lakh payout, unlike dog bite fatalities. Health officials confirmed rabies in viscera reports of a deceased from the Rajpur cases, though the efficacy of administered anti-rabies injections remains under review. The recent death of a 75-year-old man in Balwadi, following a suspected dog bite, underscores the urgency of the situation. District collectors in Barwani and Khargone have initiated measures to control the dog population through vaccination and sterilisation, in line with Supreme Court guidelines. Experts, however, caution that these measures may not fully prevent future attacks. "We promptly organised a review meeting with various departments to control the situation by vaccination and sterilisation and also gave the instructions to study such abnormal behaviour of stray dogs and plan their treatment. Apart from this, it has been made sure that the availability of anti-rabies vaccine and other related medicines in each PHC of the district," Khargone Collector Bhavya Mittal told TOI. Barwani Collector Guncha Sanobar said that under National Rabies Control Programme, a joint meeting of various departments was organised and instructions to run awareness campaigns, ensure availability of necessary injections and medicines in hospitals, vaccination and sterilisation of dogs, and registration of pet dogs were given. Apart from this, instructions were also given to record information related to animal attacks on NCDC portal. Veterinary experts, including Dr Prashant Tiwari, attribute the rise in dog-human conflicts to factors such as food scarcity, road accidents, and unfulfilled mating instincts. Dr Tiwari emphasised that a single dog attacking multiple people could indicate rabies, necessitating thorough diagnostic testing. Despite the alarming rise in cases, officials remain reticent about acknowledging a rabies outbreak. Chief Medical and Health Officer of Barwani Dr Surekha Jamre and the then Civil Surgeon of Khargone district hospital Dr Amar Singh Chauhan confirmed that anti-rabies vaccines were routinely administered, yet the lack of testing on biting dogs leaves the rabies status uncertain. With India reporting approximately 22 lakh dog bite cases in 2024, the country faces significant challenges in achieving its goal of becoming rabies-free by 2030. The situation in Barwani and Khargone serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the growing threat of rabies.
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Anti-rabies vax available in 4/5 public health facilities
New Delhi: Nearly four-fifths of the public health facilities in India have anti-rabies vaccine -- crucial to achieve the goal of rabies elimination by 2030 --, revealed a new study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Ensuring accessible and affordable post-exposure prophylaxis is a crucial strategy to eliminate rabies. The new study, published in the journal 'The Lancet' Regional Health - Southeast Asia, is based on a nationwide survey of health facilities to understand the availability of anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin. 'We found that nearly four-fifths of the public health facilities had anti-rabies vaccine,' said corresponding author Dr. Manoj Murhekar, Director of the ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE). According to data from the ICMR, India has recorded a 75 per cent reduction in rabies-related deaths. Yet, India is one of the leading countries in the world for rabies fatalities as the infection claims about 5,700 lives every year. Around 9 million animal bite cases are also reported annually. The cross-sectional study across 60 districts in 15 Indian states also found considerable geographic and facility-level variations in the availability of the medications. Of the 534 health facilities surveyed, 467 (87.5 per cent) were public sector health facilities. Anti-rabies vaccine was available in 372 public sector health facilities, ranging from 60.0 per cent to 93.2 per cent in different geographic regions. The availability of anti-rabies vaccine was lowest in urban primary healthcare centres (UPHCs), while rabies immunoglobulin was available in 95 public sector health facilities, with the highest availability in southern states. The availability of rabies immunoglobulin ranged from 1.8 per cent in UPHCs to 69.2 per cent in medical college hospitals. 'The availability (of anti-rabies vaccine) was lowest in the north-east region and highest in the southern states. Two-third of the public facilities providing anti-rabies vaccine followed had adopted the dose saving intradermal regimen as recommended by the National Rabies Control Programme, while the remaining were still following the older intra-muscular regimen,' Murhekar said. 'Rabies immunoglobulin was available only in one-fifth of public health facilities. Nearly two-third of the medical college hospitals had rabies immunoglobulin available, but the availability was notably low in the public primary care facilities,' he added. The researchers noted that the non-availability of anti-rabies vaccine in the health facility on the day of the visit could lead to bite victims returning home without receiving the jab, which can undermine the efforts toward the goal of rabies elimination. The findings called for bridging the gap in the availability of anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin to achieve the goal of zero-dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030, Murhekar said.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Rabies infection can be fatal but preventable with timely action
Prof Ram Shankar Upadhayaya, medical scientist LUCKNOW: In Feb 2025, Srushti Shinde, 21, from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, was bitten by a stray dog that had attacked nearly 20 people in a single day. Srushti sought immediate medical care, received a full course of antirabies vaccines, and was given rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). .. Despite these life-saving measures, she died just days later. How could this happen when all the right steps were taken? Her story is not just about a young life lost. It's about a disease we know how to prevent but continues to claim thousands of lives in India each year. WHAT IS RABIES? Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the central nervous system. It is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily via dog bites. Once symptoms appear ranging from fever and confusion to hallucinations, paralysis, and hydrophobia, it is fatal. But the most painful irony is that rabies is 100% preventable with proper post-exposure care. A NATIONAL EMERGENCY India bears the highest burden of rabies in the world. According to WHO and India's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths. An estimated 20,000 people die from rabies each year and over 17 million animal bite cases are reported annually, which is nearly one case every two seconds. Dogs are responsible for 99% of human rabies cases in India. Despite being preventable, most rabies deaths occur due to poor awareness, inadequate vaccine infrastructure, and lack of timely treatment. WHAT TO DO AFTER A DOG BITE If bitten by a dog, stray or pet, one must wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical help immediately as even minor bites can transmit rabies. Get vaccinated with a five-dose anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) schedule, or Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) for deep or high-risk wounds. Report the bite to local health and animal authorities. Time is critical as delay in treatment can cost lives. A WORD TO PET OWNERS & ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCATES While stray dogs pose a risk, irresponsible pet ownership can contribute to rabies transmission. If you're a pet owner, you must vaccinate your pet annually. It's legally and morally required. Keep your pets indoors or supervised. Animal welfare and public safety must go hand in hand. IS PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM FALLING SHORT? Despite having a National Rabies Control Programme and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) policy, implementation remains patchy and underfunded. Vaccine and RIG shortages, especially in rural areas, have come to light. Poor dog population management in cities and lack of real-time bite and rabies case reporting aggravates the problem. Rabies doesn't kill. Negligence does. Let's make our cities safer, educate our families and demand better from our public health systems. (The writer is a medical scientist)
