Steps taken to strengthen rabies treatment

Steps taken to strengthen rabies treatment

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare through National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) is undertaking strengthening of surveillance of all animal bites in all States/UTs. Data on dog and other animal bite cases and related deaths are reported by all States/UTs, through Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).

Under the National Health Mission (NHM), States and UTs are supported through budgetary provisions for the implementation of the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP). Funding includes capacity building of healthcare staff, procurement of rabies vaccines, printing of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on rabies and dog-bite prevention, data entry support, review meetings, monitoring and surveillance, and establishment of Model Anti-Rabies Clinics and wound-washing facilities.

Life-saving drugs such as Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Serum (ARS)/Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) are provided free of cost in the public health facilities under National Free Drug Initiative of NHM. These drugs are also included in both the National and State Essential Drug Lists.

Also under Central Sector component, National Centre for Disease Control implements rabies control activities through awareness, lab strengthening, guidelines and training materials etc. 

Further to strengthen involvement of veterinary sector under “National One Health Programme For Prevention and Control of Zoonosis” committees have been formed in all States and veterinary laboratories to strengthen diagnosis of animal Rabies.

To create awareness among public and healthcare professionals Dog bite protocols, IEC materials, and training videos on the management of animal bite/dog bite cases have been created and disseminated across the country.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri. Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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