Vietnam responds to World Rabies Day
VOV.VN - Representatives from ministries, departments and international organizations, together with a large number of local people, attended a meeting to mark the World Rabies Day on Wednesday, September 27th in northern Bac Giang Province.
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Delivering a keynote speech at the ceremony, Dam Xuan Thanh, deputy head of the Animal Health Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said there are more than 7.7 million dogs across the country, however, only 2.9 million dogs have been vaccinated against rabies. The number of fatalities caused by rabies seems to be increasing in Vietnam.
Last year, rabies spread by dogs claimed the lives of 91 people, up 17% compared to 2015 and 38% compared to 2014. During the first nine months of this year, 57 people died of rabies.
In the coming time, the MARD in coordination with the Ministry of Health will better implement measures proposed at the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program in the 2017-2021 period and disseminate information to raise public awareness on rabies prevention, said Mr Thanh.
Jong-Ha Bae who represents a number of international organization in Vietnam, said Vietnam can eliminate rabies with the cooperation of authorities and local people. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) pledged to support Vietnam’s rabies prevention program.
After the meeting, hundreds of people joined a march to support the World Rabies Day in Bac Giang City.
