RAJSHAHI, Sept 28, 2021 (BSS)- Animal and veterinary health experts at a

seminar today unequivocally called for creating awareness among mass people
on rabies infection to prevent the occurrence of hydrophobia.

     They also underscored the need to make the dog vaccination campaign a
success to control rabies infection in the society.

     Lack of awareness, coordination and requisite information and limitation
of logistics are being identified as major challenges towards preventing the
diseases. So, there is no alternative to face the existing challenges
collectively, they unanimously mentioned.

     The Department of Livestock Services organised the discussion related to
the issue held at its office conference hall, marking the World Rabies Day
2021 that is observed here as elsewhere in the country today. This year's
theme of the day is "Rabies: Facts, Not Fear".

     Divisional Director of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Uttam
Kumar Das addressed the meeting as chief guest, while District Livestock
Officer Dr Zulfiquar Akhtar Hossain was in the chair.

     Former Deputy Director Azizul Islam, District Training Officer Ismail
Haque, Additional District Livestock Officer Dr Antim Kumar and Medical
Officer Dr Md Kurshidul Islam from Civil Surgeon Office also spoke
disseminating their expertise on the issue.

     Dr Sagar Ahmed, Veterinary Surgeon of Paba Upazila, presented a keynote
paper on the issue. He said vaccination can reduce reproduction of dogs to a
great extent and break the cycle of rabies transmission.

     He, however, said the government has a massive intervention to eliminate
the rabies.

     Various activities like advocacy, communication and social mobilisation,
management of dog bite, mass dog vaccination and dog population management
are being accomplished from top to bottom, he said.

     Dog bite management centres are functioning throughout the country in
addition to distribution of vaccines, training of physicians and nurses has
been accelerated, he added.

     Earlier, the livestock officials and staff brought out a brief rally at
the office campus amid the Covid-19 pandemic. A number of representatives
from different government and non-government organisations joined the rally.