World Rabies Day was celebrated in nearly 80 countries worldwide. In Karachi it was a notable event celebrated in collaboration with Novartis Vaccines and Rabies in Asia for middle and high school children, parents, teachers, health care givers, hospital and clinic administrators, as well as city, provincial and WHO appointed decision makers.
The event was held in the premises of the Indus Hospital, Korangi where over 700 guests gathered to hear Dr. Quaid Saeed, National Programme Officer WHO Country Office and Dr. Huma Qureshi, Director Pakistan Medical Research Council announce that this much neglected and fatal disease is finally being noticed by Health authorities.
Ten animal bite treatment centers will be opened in each province that will be provided treatment with high quality vaccine. Dr. Naeem Qureshi has been designated focal person for the ten centers in both rural and urban Sindh.
Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, Member WHO Expert Panel for Rabies and Head, Department of Infectious Diseases at the Indus Hospital offered to make The Indus Hospital the Training Center for all Sindh centers. Dr. Seemin Jamali, Director of Emergency Department, JPMC emphasized the tremendous importance of immediate care by washing bite wounds thoroughly and reaching the nearest treatment center for further management.
The children were treated to a magic and puppet show for rabies awareness, hosted by a TV star. Lectures on Rabies will follow during the rest of the week in some medical colleges. After the session in the coming week; Novartis vaccines in collaboration with WHO and RIA will conduct free pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccination for the SOS village children.
