12 South Asian countries study State’s successful model
A dog is being vaccinated at the static point vaccination for pet dogs at Holy Spirit Church Square, Fatorda on Tuesday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Goa model of controlling rabies has not only attracted other states in the country to adopt the model, but countries from South Asia as well.
As many as 12 South Asian countries have come down to Goa to study the Goa model for implementation in their respective states to control rabies.
The State, however, has a task at hand – how to control the migration of stray dogs from the endemic border states such as Maharashtra to eradicate rabies from the tourism State.
Dr Murugan Appupillai Murugan, Mission Rabies informed that Goa has made a lead by becoming the first State in the country to become controlled rabies State. “All other states are now taking training from the Goa model. Right now, we are operating in 11 states as well as in other countries. Around 12 South Asian countries have come for training and to study the Goa model. We should be proud of this achievement. If this trend continues, I think the target set by World Health Organisation to eliminate rabies by 2030 will be achieved,” he said at a static point vaccination for pet dogs near the Holy Spirit Church Square on Tuesday.
Speaking on the Goa situation on the rabies front, Murugan said there is no virus in the six interior talukas of Goa. He, however, hastened to add that there is virus in the border talukas due to migration of the virus from the border state such as Maharashtra which is highly endemic.
“Last year, the number of rabies case reported in the six talukas was six in animals, three cases in cattle and one human being. Comparatively, around 36 cases were reported in just three talukas in Maharashtra during the same period. Just imagine the situation in Maharashtra and how much Goa is protected from the virus,” Murugan said, while saying that repeated vaccination and sterilisation pogrammes is the way to control the virus. He pointed out that people cannot bring pets and dogs into the State unless they are accompanied by a certification.
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai, however, said the Goa model of controlling rabies is nice, but the model is not good for Goa for want of government seriousness in tackling the stray dog issue.
“The government had announced that Goa is rabies free before dogs migrated from Maharashtra to give us the status of rabies controlled State. When we discussed the issue in the last Assembly for three hours, the government promised to come out with a policy to tackle strays. Afterwards, we realised that a policy is already in place since the last three months. This only goes to show the government’s seriousness in addressing the issue,” Sardesai added.
Cooperation Minister Subhash Shirodkar urged the Animal Husbandry Director to go to the towns and villages every fortnight to conduct sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs and pets.
