Utilising old office into animals vaccination centre mulled

 KUCHING: Kuching City South Council (MBKS) has suggested that the old office of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVSS) at Jalan Sekama here be turned into a weekend vaccination centre for animals,

Its deputy mayor Datuk Zaiedi Suhaili said this could be one of the ways in ensuring effective rabies management in Sarawak.
 
“If the Veterinary Services Department allows us to make use of its old office to become a weekend vaccination centre for animals (cats and dogs), I think it will be a great help in ensuring rabies management in the state.
 
“Maybe it can open on Saturday and Sunday, and pet owners can actually bring their pets to the centre for vaccinations,” he said when speaking at the closing ceremony of the Training the Trainers (TOT) for the Management of Rabies in Sarawak and the Rabies Community Outreach programme with MBKS and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) community leaders at MBKS Auditorium here, today.

Dr. Razitasham Safi (left) from Medical Faculty, UNIMAS receive a momento from Zaiedi, while being flanked by JKNS senior officer Dr. Johnny Pangkas  (third right) and Dr. Rohani (second right).

He said close collaborations between government agencies such as Ministry of Health (KKM), Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG), DVSS, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), community leaders, Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and volunteers are the key to success in ensuring the effectiveness of rabies management in Sarawak and strengthening community awareness of the dangers of the disease to the local community.
 
“The main objective of these collaborations is to break the chain of rabies infection through the approach of agents, human and the environment,” he said.
 
In addition, Zaiedi said the Rabies Community Outreach Programme has provided opportunities for the council to reach out to the community, provide education, and raise awareness about rabies.
 
“This is a very important step because success in controlling rabies requires cooperation and active involvement from every level of society,” he said.
 
The two-day Rabies Community Outreach Programme, which was held from June 28 and 29 for about 50 councillors and community leaders at MBKS, was organised and sponsored by Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN) collaborating with MPHLG, MBKS, DBKU, DVSS, KKM, SSPCA and UNIMAS.
 
Meanwhile, JKNS deputy director, Dr. Rohani Mat Bah said 79 rabies cases among humans with 72 deaths were recorded in Sarawak since the outbreak was declared in July 2017.
 
“Four cases are from this year and three cases are from Kuching. One case got the infection from a stray dog, three cases got the infection from their own unvaccinated pets. The three people in these cases kept cats and the newly reported case in Kuching also has dogs.
 
“In all cases, they also did not seek treatment and vaccinations at clinics or hospitals after being bitten or clawed by animals,” she said.