Dr Annuar Rapaee
SIBU: The mobile team that handles free vaccination for rabies will head to 33 longhouses across the Nangka constituency end of this month.
The programme, to be divided into eight zones, will kick off this Jan 30 and conclude on Feb 6, covering 792 ‘bilik’ (longhouse unite or ‘doors’).
“With the mobile vaccination team reaching out to the longhouse folk, it would be easier for the villagers to get their dogs vaccinated. Furthermore, such approach would allow for better coverage of the free anti-rabies vaccination programme.
“It is estimated that there are over 1,000 dogs in the 33 longhouses, based on a rough assumption of each unit having two dogs,” Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee, who is Nangka assemblyman, told The Borneo Post yesterday.
For the record, the free mass anti-rabies vaccination programme covering 29 different locations across this division, commenced on Jan 20 and would continue until March 1. It is part of a two-pronged strategy – to keep this division rabies free, and to remove strays from the streets.
The target is to vaccinate 70 per cent of the 35,000 dogs across this division within two weeks.
Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research, did express his disappointment over the lukewarm response to the programme from the pet owners, which he attributed to lack of publicity and also lack of awareness of the deadly disease.
This Jan 30 (Tuesday), the mobile vaccination team will be at the longhouses under Zone 1, namely Rumah Johnny from 9am to 10am, Rumah John Lalong (10.30am-11am) and Rumah Asing Sanyut (11.30am-12.30pm).
The team will then proceed to Zone II also on the same day – Rumah Philip (1.30pm-2.30pm), Rumah Bajai (3pm-4pm) and Rumah Sebastian (4.30pm-5.30pm).
On this, Dr Annuar advised the longhouse residents to get their dogs vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies. He also reiterated this call upon dog owners to keep their pets within their house compounds at all times, especially within one month after being vaccinated.
“The vaccine only works in one month after the injection.”
Meanwhile, Tuai Rumah Philip Jimbon hoped that his fellow longhouse villagers would give full cooperation to the mobile team and fully support the programme.
“We are very thankful to all those who have helped to ensure the success of this programme, especially Dr Annuar who is very concerned about the health of all the residents of the 33 longhouses in Nangka,” Philip said.
Today, the free mass rabies vaccination exercise will be taking place at Hui Ning Garden along the Upper Lanang Road (9am-4pm) and tomorrow (9am-2pm).
For information about the programme’s location, members of the public can call 013-8077964 / 084-310808.