Rabies eradication overlooked in officials’ tug-of-war
A power struggle between two public institutions trying to reach the same objective appears to take precedence over the eradication of rabies in Sri Lanka.
Public health veterinary officers of the Health Ministry (MoH) and the main union of the State Veterinary Surgeons Association (SVSA), this week, made claims and counter claims over a proposal to re-transfer the anti-rabies programme to the Health Ministry.
Dr Ruvini Pimburuge, a Health Ministry public health veterinary officer, explained that in 2017, the jurisdiction of the supervision of stray dogs and minimising harm to the public, was taken away from the Health Ministry and handed to the Department of Animal Production on a recommendation of a parliamentary committee. But the department had reportedly told the MoH that it possessed neither the grants nor the staff to carry out the programme, and the MoH offered their grants and human resources, she explained.
In January 2018, the department took control of the project including staff and funds. “The department does not have a network, or the data. The MoH has easy access to a network as public health comes under the Ministry, which has data from the 1970s,’’ Dr Pimburuge said. She said the ministry was willing to share the data.
“We even asked for meetings with them. They were very irresponsible. If they acted responsibly, there would be a good relationship between the MoH and the department, including continuous data sharing. ”
A parliamentary advisory committee consisting of Dr Ramesh Pathirana, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, and health officials met in June 2018. After six months of discussions, based on data, it was decided that the MoH should be given jurisdiction over stray dogs and minimising public harm. “We have the team, infrastructure, vehicles, staff and the equipment to carry out this programme.”
The director of public health, veterinary services, MoH, Dr L D Kithsiri said: “The concept of vets carrying out vaccinations in this manner was tried out in Thailand, and it failed.” He said that as rabies affects dogs and humans, it is a matter of public health, over which the Department of Animal Production and Health has no authority.
“The department focuses on the vaccination and supervision of domesticated animals. It is not mindful of peripheral rural areas. Rabies is a problem in rural areas, with stray dogs and people living below the poverty line.”
MoH data shows that rabies-related human deaths had decreased from the 300s in 1974 to 19 in 2016. Dr Kithsiri said the goal is zero rabies cases and deaths.
The president of the SVSA Union, Dr Ruwan Wickramarachi said the allegation that the SVSA is understaffed and the area they could cover was limited, was outdated. “It's a joke that they think we do not have enough manpower to carry out this programme.”
Dr Wickramarachi said that the SVSA has enlisted 328 offices in all districts, each with 1-2 veterinary surgeons. In addition, a further 3-4 units equipped with vaccinators, vets, and transport modes had been established in every district.
He pointed out that the programme carried out by the MoH needs to enlist more public health inspectors and vaccinators. It takes two people to perform a task that one vet from the SVSA can do.
He said the programme is now funded by the government and the SVSA had financial limitations initially. “The MoH blocked money that was to come to us,” he said.
He said funds had not been given in the transition year 2017, and that funding continued to go to the MoH. This was apparent in 2018 as well, with the government not providing funding for equipment or transport, he said. Now the government has provided funds and the SVSA has acquired vaccinators, equipment, operating tables, cages, among other items.
He said that it would be a monumental waste to transfer the jurisdiction of this matter back to the MoH after such investments had been made. “This programme needs time to work. Give us five years, we will eradicate rabies in the c o u n t r y, ” s ays Dr Wickramarachi.
He is not against working with the MoH. If the SVSA were given control of the veterinary aspect of the programme, he would have no problems working with the MoH and city planners to address rabies-related issues. He said all institutions should combine their efforts to end rabies.