Pet owners get their dogs vaccinated at the event. — Photo by Chimon Upon.
KUCHING: Everyone must work together to eliminate rabies, which knows no bounds, says director of Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak Dr Adrian Susin Ambud.
He said though many things have changed since the Covid-19 pandemic, one thing still unchanged was our togetherness in facing any challenges.
“We always act as one to ensure Sarawak is safe for us to live in. One things that doesn’t change is the leadership of an organisation. We must give special thanks to Deputy Chief Minister and State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah for his great leadership in managing the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC),” he said at the World Rabies Day yesterday.
The event was officiated at by permanent secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Datu Antonio Kahti Galis, representing Uggah. It was held at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) community hall.
Dr Adrian added that anyone could participate in and be active in many different ways to spread the message on rabies, the importance of vaccination and preventing the spread of rabies.
He said that dogs vaccination was important to prevent rabies at the source, before moving to the erradication of the rabies menace.
The theme of the World Rabies Day this year is ‘End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate’. It is aimed at achieving zero human rabies death by 2030, the importance of dog vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis, and the need for a united effort towards achieving elimination of rabies.
He reminded the people that it was possible to end human deaths from rabies, by raising public awareness.
Meanwhile, the department has so far provided free anti-rabies vaccination to 86,798 dogs in Sarawak since the outbreak started in July 2017.
All dogs in Sarawak must be vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine.
The owner or person in-charge of a dog who fails without reasonable cause to comply with the Anti-Rabies Vaccination Order shall be guilty of an offence under Section 40 of Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, 1999.
The offence carries a fine not exceeding RM2,500 while the dogs may be detained or removed.
Additionally, those who let their dogs roam freely on the streets shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM2,500 under Section 37 of Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999.
They must keep their dogs under effective control either by confining them within an enclosed area from which it is impossible for the dogs to escape, or tying it up securely, or leading it by a chain or lead of strong cord or leather properly secured to a collar or harness worn by the dog.
The local authorities may seize and impound any dogs which is not on a leash in accordance with the Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) by-laws, 2018.
The World Rabies Day 2020 was organised by Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, in collaboration with Kota Samarahan District Council, North City Commission, Kuching South City Council, Padawan Municipal Council, Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) and Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
MPKS chairman Datuk Peter Minos, MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, DBKU Datuk Bandar Datu Junaidi Reduan, PMC deputy chairman Dato Ahmad Ibrahim, and principal assistant secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Dr Gluma Saban were among those present at the function.
The event included a rabies video-making competition, free rabies vaccination for dogs, micro-chipping, rabies talk and dogs licensing.
Dog owners also took the opportunity to get their pets vaccinated outside the event venue.