ID :
43980
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 19:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/43980
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UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTES 180 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP FIGHT RABIES
Denpasar, Indonesia, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Udayana University (Unud) has mobilized 180 volunteers comprising 150 students and 30 lecturers to take part in a drive to vaccinate people against rabies and round up stray dogs in Denpasar and Badung district.
"We are ready to mobilize even more volunteers, if necessary," Unud Rector Prof I Made Bakta said at a seminar on rabies management here on Tuesday.
He said students and lecturers of Unud's School of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) had been mobilized since the drive to fight rabies was launched in December last year.
The effort had continued up to the present, and Unud had even formed a rabies management team to deal with the epidemic.
Prof Bakta said rabies outbreaks could be overcome completely through the participation of all parties at provincial, district, and municipal levels.
"People in Bali have actually been worrying about a rabies epidemic since 1980 and now their fear has become a reality," Bakta said.
Therefore, he said, all parties at provincial, district, and municipal levels should work together to eradicate the disease across Bali.
The vaccination program in Bali on December 20-21, 2008 was also supported by Australia as part of its A$100,000 contribution to control the rabies outbreak in the province.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer who was pleased that his country was able to respond quickly and provide targeted assistance, said Canberra would provide equipment to allow more rapid diagnosis of the disease, and to support a mass vaccination campaign in the affected areas of Badung district.
"This support will cover provision of a fluorescence microscope, testing of reagents and training in initial diagnostic interpretations," Farmer said in an Australian embassy media release.
Since September 2008, there have been four suspected human cases in Bali. The Indonesian Government has responded quickly to control the disease.
The grant from AusAID would be implemented through the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
"We are ready to mobilize even more volunteers, if necessary," Unud Rector Prof I Made Bakta said at a seminar on rabies management here on Tuesday.
He said students and lecturers of Unud's School of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) had been mobilized since the drive to fight rabies was launched in December last year.
The effort had continued up to the present, and Unud had even formed a rabies management team to deal with the epidemic.
Prof Bakta said rabies outbreaks could be overcome completely through the participation of all parties at provincial, district, and municipal levels.
"People in Bali have actually been worrying about a rabies epidemic since 1980 and now their fear has become a reality," Bakta said.
Therefore, he said, all parties at provincial, district, and municipal levels should work together to eradicate the disease across Bali.
The vaccination program in Bali on December 20-21, 2008 was also supported by Australia as part of its A$100,000 contribution to control the rabies outbreak in the province.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer who was pleased that his country was able to respond quickly and provide targeted assistance, said Canberra would provide equipment to allow more rapid diagnosis of the disease, and to support a mass vaccination campaign in the affected areas of Badung district.
"This support will cover provision of a fluorescence microscope, testing of reagents and training in initial diagnostic interpretations," Farmer said in an Australian embassy media release.
Since September 2008, there have been four suspected human cases in Bali. The Indonesian Government has responded quickly to control the disease.
The grant from AusAID would be implemented through the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
