DC Kupwara Chairs District Level Committee meeting on NRCP, SPCA

• Directs Launch of Anti-Rabies Vaccination Camps, Awareness Drives in Schools

KUPWARA: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara,  Shrikant Suse  today chaired a meeting of the District Level Committee constituted under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP).  reviewed matters pertaining to the Society during the same meeting.

The meeting was attended by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara, Dr. Zaffar; Chief  Education Officer (CEO), Chief Animal Husbandry Officer (CAHO); BDO Hqr  District Epidemiologist; besides officers from the Army and Police Department.

During the meeting, the DC  undertook a detailed review of the status of rabies prevention and control measures in the district, taking inputs from the Departments of Animal/Sheep Husbandry, Municipal Committee Kupwara, Education, Health and other allied departments.

The Deputy Commissioner directed the CAHO to initiate Anti-Rabies Vaccination camps for stray dogs across the district on priority basis, with the first camp to be held at the Army Camp, Zanglai, Kupwara. The CEO was directed to conduct awareness programmes in schools to sensitise students on preventive measures and basic first-aid in the event of an animal bite.

The Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the functioning of the SPCA, wherein the CAHO briefed the Committee on the current status and activities of the Society in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner directed all stakeholder departments to work in close coordination to strengthen surveillance and reporting of animal-bite and rabies cases, ensure uninterrupted availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Serum (ARS) at all health institutions up to the PHC level, and intensify community awareness on responsible animal ownership, with the objective of achieving the national goal of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.