NATIONAL RABIES CONTROL PROGRAMME

Context: The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), launched by the Indian government, aims to prevent and eradicate rabies.

National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP)

• To prevent and control rabies, the Central Government has started the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP). According to information obtained from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the strategies of the program are as follows:
  • Rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin are provided through national free drug programmes.
  • Training on rabies prevention and control, surveillance, and intersectoral coordination, as well as proper animal bite management.
  • Strengthening surveillance of animal bites and rabies death reporting.
  • Creating awareness about rabies prevention.

Other Steps announced to control rabies

• To limit the dog population, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Regulations, 2023 have been proposed by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to the appropriate authorities.
• "National Action Plan For Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) from India by 2030" was jointly announced by the Indian Ministries of Health & Family Welfare and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairy.
• The local bodies are responsible for managing and controlling the stray dog population. To reduce the number of stray dogs, the local government must apply the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, which were created by the central government. The main emphasis of the regulations is on stray dog anti-rabies vaccination and stray dog sterilization as population control measures.

Objectives of NRCP

• Healthcare workers should receive training on proper animal bite management and rabies post-exposure prevention.
• Advocacy for states to adopt and put into practice the intradermal method of post-exposure treatment for victims of animal bites and pre-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk groups.
• Strengthening the system for monitoring human rabies.
• Improvement of Regional Labs Under NRCP for Rabies Diagnosis.
• Advocacy, communication, and social mobilisation are used to raise awareness in the neighbourhood.

Rabies

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/rabies

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1910410