On the occasion of World Rabies Day, the Center on Tuesday launched a national action plan NAPRE to eradicate canine mediated rabies by 2030. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Purushottam Rupala unveiled the National Action Plan for Dog-mediated Rabies. Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE).
“The ministers urged all states and union territories to make rabies a notable disease,” an official statement said. The two Union Ministers also launched the Joint Inter-Ministerial Declaration of Support for the Elimination of Dog-mediated Rabies from India by 2030 through a Health Approach.
The Union Health Minister also talked about the human cost caused by the disease. Drawing from his own experience of contracting a zoonotic disease while treating an animal, Mandaviya acknowledged that most victims of the disease are those in the most productive years of their lives. Zoonotic diseases like rabies claim people’s lives, denying the family of their earning member, he said. Rupala spoke about the menace of rabies in the rural areas of the country. The disease is commonly known as ‘Hadakwa’ in the villages.
The mere mention of ‘Hadakwa’ creates panic in rural areas, he said. Villagers will actively come forward when they understand that rabies translates to ‘hadakwa’. They will actively help the government in this noble endeavour. Rupala asked the senior officials to use the more familiar term ‘hadakwa’ to popularize the activities to be carried out under the scheme. He also emphasized on creating awareness about the difference between vaccine and medicine with regard to rabies.
The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has prepared a draft action plan in consultation with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Rabies is 100 percent fatal but 100 percent vaccine-preventable. Bharati Praveen Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare said, “33 per cent of the global rabies deaths are recorded in India. He expressed hope that NCDC is doing its best in tackling zoonotic diseases like Nipah, Zika, Avian flu and surveillance. With rich experience, diseases like influenza, hepatitis will play a big role in the government’s efforts to promote one health approach.
Underscoring the importance of a health approach, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sanjeev Kumar Balyan said that there is a need to devise new strategies for the health challenges of this era, which accounts for two-thirds of all existing diseases. Their origin in animals.
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