The Central Government of India has launched a national action plan under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) for dog-mediated rabies elimination by 2030, and has also declared rabies a notifiable disease.
- In this regard, a ‘One Health’ network has been created which will serve the purpose of strengthening surveillance, and health systems for multiple health risks at the human-animal-environment interface.
What is a notifiable disease?
It should be noted that notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities.
- Therefore, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations, 1969 require disease reporting to the WHO in order to help with its global surveillance and advisory role.
Highlights of National Action Plan under NRCP:
i.There will be training of health care professionals on appropriate animal bite management and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.
ii.States will also be supported to adopt and implement intradermal route of post-exposure prophylaxis for animal bite victims and pre-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk categories.
iii.Also, awareness will be created in the community through communication and social mobilization.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease which spreads to people from the saliva of infected animals like dogs and other mammals. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal.
- It causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
- As per WHO, approximately 36% of global rabies deaths transmitted by dogs are recorded in India.
- Rabies is also classified as one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects poor and vulnerable populations who live in remote rural locations.
The WHO in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) supports Member States in their efforts to eliminate rabies as a public health problem by 2030.
Recent Related News:
On September 28, 2021 i.e. on the occasion of World Rabies Day, the Central Government has launched a National Action Plan for dog Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE) for the elimination of dog mediated rabies by 2030. Â It was unveiled by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Parshottam Rupala, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD).
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Constituency- Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Bharati Pravin Pawar (Constituency- Dindori, Maharashtra)
