RABIES PROGRAMME SHOULD STAY WITH SVSA: VETERINARIANS

The State Veterinary Surgeon’s Association (SVSA) yesterday said they would take stern trade union action if the government fails to withdraw the Cabinet Paper that proposed to bring the rabies elimination programme back under the purview of the Health Ministry.

Speaking at a media briefing, the Association’s Vice President Dr. Jagath Jayasekara said the rabies elimination programme had been conducted under the purview of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) since 2015. “Due to technical faults, the programme had not been handed over to the DAPH until April 2018. Later it was handed over to the Health Ministry,” he said.

68,000 dog sterilizations had also taken place and 2,600 public awareness programmes had been conducted. The SVSA has a vision to eradicate rabies from the country within three years

“Since t hen Rs.1.5 million had been allocated for the programme and 1,190,000 dog vaccinations to prevent rabies had been done. “Accordingly, 68,000 dog sterilizations had also t aken place and 2,600 public awareness programmes had been conducted,” he said, adding “The SVSA has a vision to eradicate rabies from the country within three years,” he said. The Health Ministry had tried to eliminate the rabies menace for 65 years and failed. We totally reject the allegations made by the Health Ministry claiming that recent deaths that had occurred during past eight months was our fault, Dr. Jayasekara said. “No dog bites were reported during the past eight months as has been claimed by the Health Ministry. The Veterinary Department had managed to rid the country of the cattle disease “Rinderpest” and has ensured that the disease would not spread again. “Therefore the rabies elimination programme should be kept under the SVSA until the target is achieved,” he said. “We are now building shelters in many places for stray dogs so that the disease can be controlled effectively,” he said.