Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health Program

[Guest guest]

The Sikkim-Anti-Rabies and Animal Health (SARAH) Programme is about to

enter its second phase, involving the training and equipping of the

first mobile units to work in outlying communities throughout the state.

 

This unique project, where collaboration between VetCharity (an

Australian based NGO)and the State Government of Sikkim has produced a

state wide animal birth control and anti-rabies vaccination program.

This is an example of a synergistic and effective means to control

rabies in a humane way and has stopped the slaughter of more than 1000

dogs each year in this Himalayan state of India. This project is

generously sponsored by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.

 

VetCharity is also engaging in a similar program in Ladakh where the

poisoning of street dogs has now stopped following the introduction of

desexing. VetCharity wish to promote and help implement this WHO

recommended method of rabies control to other governments in Asia and

the Pacific. It is the only method of effectively controlling rabies

in humans and has demonstrated public health benifits and cost svaings

to local and state governments through the reduction of zoonotic

diseases.

 

Mass slaughter of dogs has been scientifically proven to be completely

innefective in controlling dog population numbers, rabies and other

diseases.

 

Additionally, discussions will shortly commence with the Sikkimese

Department of Forests and Wildlife Management, to develop and

implement strategies addressing the plight of the many endangered and

threatened native species in this Himalayan state.

 

VetCharity is in continual need of the assistance of volunteer

veterinary personnel to work with this important project and

additional funding to implement ABC-AR projects in other areas of Asia.

www.vetcharity.org

sikkimproject