Thursday, September 23, 2004
Govt. spends Rs. 3 mn. daily on rabies vaccines
By Damitha Hemachandra
The government incurs an expenditure of Rs. 3 million per day on an average of 2000 Anti Rabies vaccine (ARV) injections given daily at government hospitals to dog bite victims, Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said on Tuesday.
Discussing novel approaches to eradicate rabies from the country, the Minister pointed out that nearly 2000 ARV shots each worth Rs. 1500 are given to dog-bite victims a day, taxing the annual Health Budget to the tune of half a billion rupees.
"Our aim should be to reduce the present stray dog population of the country, estimated at 2.5 million," he said adding that sterilization of stray dogs is considered more effective and humane than the elimination of stray dogs.
Commenting on the recent protests by animal lovers and international animal welfare organizations against the killing of stray dogs, Minister De Silva pointed out that Sri Lanka is a third world country which has to seek pragmatic solutions.
The Health Ministry's recently launched Rabies Prevention programme seeks to eliminate rabies from the county and focuses on 'red spot areas' like North and East, Southern and Western provinces.
The World Bank funded programme is equipped with a state-of-the-art stray dog capturing vehicle and specially trained people to handle stray dogs safely and humanely.
The Director of the Public Health Veterinary Services Department, Dr. P. A. L. Harischandra said that at least 75% of the stray dog population should be vaccinated and sterilised to reduce the present high-risk environment.
Forty-six rabies deaths have been reported within this year recording an increase from 37 deaths last year. The highest number of deaths had been reported from North-East Province.
The government incurs an expenditure of Rs. 3 million per day on an average of 2000 Anti Rabies vaccine (ARV) injections given daily at government hospitals to dog bite victims, Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said on Tuesday.
Discussing novel approaches to eradicate rabies from the country, the Minister pointed out that nearly 2000 ARV shots each worth Rs. 1500 are given to dog-bite victims a day, taxing the annual Health Budget to the tune of half a billion rupees.
"Our aim should be to reduce the present stray dog population of the country, estimated at 2.5 million," he said adding that sterilization of stray dogs is considered more effective and humane than the elimination of stray dogs.
Commenting on the recent protests by animal lovers and international animal welfare organizations against the killing of stray dogs, Minister De Silva pointed out that Sri Lanka is a third world country which has to seek pragmatic solutions.
The Health Ministry's recently launched Rabies Prevention programme seeks to eliminate rabies from the county and focuses on 'red spot areas' like North and East, Southern and Western provinces.
The World Bank funded programme is equipped with a state-of-the-art stray dog capturing vehicle and specially trained people to handle stray dogs safely and humanely.
The Director of the Public Health Veterinary Services Department, Dr. P. A. L. Harischandra said that at least 75% of the stray dog population should be vaccinated and sterilised to reduce the present high-risk environment.
Forty-six rabies deaths have been reported within this year recording an increase from 37 deaths last year. The highest number of deaths had been reported from North-East Province.
