Saturday 8 September 2007 is World Rabies day. Worldwide, veterinarians will do something to commemorate the day. One of the things we, veterinarians, should put significant efforts in is to educate the public about the disease. It is preventable, it kills (at some stage of the disease, its effects cannot be reversed - ends in fatality), it affects both man and animals (warm-blooded animals). The least recognised public health role of the veterinarians should therefore stand out prominently.
I share with you (below) an excerpt of a press release from Uganda Veterinary Association:
"Rabies is a preventable viral disease of warm-blooded animals often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The Rabies virus infects the central nervous system causing encephalopathy and ultimately death. It is reported that 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year – a rate of one person every ten minutes!
The Uganda Veterinary Association, in collaboration with the Uganda Society for Protection and Care of Animals (USPCA); the Uganda Small Animal Practitioners Association (USAPA); the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF); the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Kampala City Council (KCC) will commemorate the World Rabies day by carrying out community outreach in Rubaga Division.
The major activities will be:
1. Vaccination of dogs and cats against Rabies.
2. Creation of awareness of the dangers and need to control Rabies in the
community.
3. Treatment of dogs and cats against endoparasites (worms).
4. Treatment of dogs and cats against ectoparasites (ticks, mange, fleas)."
As many vets as possible together with some vet students will engage in this community activity. Some cars in Kampala are already carrying the stickers announcing the World Rabies day. I have and will be part of the plan and execution of the programme. I am looking forward to it. I will be more than glad to write a bit about our experiences.
May God open the ears / eyes of the public so that they take heed of the call to prevent this killer disease, Rabies.
I have two other events running on Saturday 8 September 2007: The ethnic community I belong to will be giving thanks to God for His goodness in an interdenominational service, and the Ugandan national football (soccer) team play the Niger team. Uganda must win with a 'big' margin to have hopes of qualifying for the Africa Nations cup in Ghana 2008.
My day's plan: Participate in the community outreach programme then join others in thanking God and thereafter watch the Uganda Cranes 'do their thing' against Niger. I believe that all will be well.
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