วันจันทร์ที่ 10 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Moves to get rabies under control | Sunshine Lichauco de Leon

The pilot program in the Philippines have significantly reduced the impact of rabies, bringing hope to health professionals around the world

Rabies is a disease considered to be virtually eliminated in humans in the developing world, still causes significant death in poor countries. According to the World Health Organization, at least 150 people die of rabies every day, with 99% of human deaths from rabies caused by dog ??bites infected mainly in Asia and Africa.

But the success of a pilot program to eradicate rabies in the Philippines, has given hope to health professionals in the world. With political will, community participation and financing small (0.36 euros per person for three years), the island of Bohol has significantly reduced the impact of a disease used to kill 10 people a year.

In recognition of the achievements of Bohol community to build a sustainable program to fight against rabies, representatives of 10 countries met in the Philippines last week to listen to local people about successes, challenges and lessons learned from their project, which has left the province of the island with only one suspected case of human rabies since 2008.

The example provided by the Philippines, a country considered one of the 10 hot spots of rabies in the region, could be a much needed light at the end of the tunnel for many developing countries where rabies is known as the "forgotten disease", has received little attention and few attempts to combat it.

According to Dr. Deborah Briggs

, Global Alliance for fight against rabies (Garcia), the British NGO which has partnered with the provincial government of Bohol, rabies has the highest mortality rate high disease that infects humans. She explains: ".. It usually affects the poorest and go die from rabies and therefore, no lame"

The main strength of the whole country "bottom up" was a team of 15,000 volunteers, medical personnel and other officials working with registered dogs, mass vaccination campaigns and management of stray dogs.

Dr. Betsy Miranda
, ADB GARCÍA coordinator, said: "We encourage people to keep dogs if they can afford to properly care for them continues,". And treatment after a dog bite is essential - if you do not receive the vaccine after being bitten by an infected dog, the most likely die. The incubation period can be from days to several months. "

Because rabies occurs mainly in children under 15, a public education campaign is incorporated in the national curriculum, incorporating messages about the disease and how to take care of your dog in five different themes to teach elementary school children.
This innovative approach to the dissemination of consciousness has been a valuable tool and that Garcia began to emulate India and Africa. These training modules are being considered for rabies experts in other countries in Asia as a possible strategy to save the lives of other children living in high risk areas.

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