This post is also available in: Indonesian

The World Rabies Day (WRD) is celebrated on September 28 each year worldwide. This year, CIVAS celebrates WRD through 2 events in Bali and Jakarta. CIVAS participated in WRD celebration in Denpasar, Bali, on September 28, 2011, through an exhibition, seminar on Rabies situation and mitigation in Bali, and Public Service: Animal Clinic. In Jakarta, CIVAS with the Indonesian Veterinary Student Association (IMAKAHI) from the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Branch held a sympathy act at Bundaran Air Mancur and Patung Kuda – Monas, Jakarta on October 2, 2011.

Bali WRD Event

WRD celebration in Bali was opened by remarks from the Director General of Livestock and Animal Health – Ministry of Agriculture, Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health – Ministry of Health, and Head of the Livestock Service Office of Bali Province, Ir. I Putu Sumantra, M.App.Sc. on behalf of Bali Governor. Awards were then given by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture through the Director General of Livestock and Animal Health to 9 provinces declared rabies free, district leaders and mayors in the whole island of Bali, Head of the Livestock Service Office of Bali Province, and the Bali Rabies Eradication Movement Team (Gempar), represented by Coordinators of Gempar in Badung district and Denpasar city.

The ensuing seminar presented 3 speakers: Head of the Livestock Service Office of Bali Province Ir. I Putu Sumantra, M.App.Sc talking about “Rabies in Bali: Mitigation through Mass Vaccination of Animals”, Head of the Health Service Office of Bali Province on “Rabies Cases in Human: The Latest Situation of Animal Bites and Rabies Cases in Human,”, and Director General of Livestock and Animal Health about “Rabies Control and Eradication Program in Bali: An Example of One Health Approach”.

The exhibition held was followed by institutions and organizations involved in Rabies eradication in Bali and rabies vaccine companies. Participants in the exhibition were the Health Service Office of Bali Province, FAO, Center for Indonesian Veterinary Analytical Studies (CIVAS), Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA), Yudistira and vaccine manufacturers PT. Pfizer and Pusvetma. In the exhibition, CIVAS displayed photos, leaflets, and banners on rabies socialization and eradication activities conducted in Bali.

Jakarta WRD Event

WRD was celebrated in Jakarta through a sympathy act followed by 70 students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, and representatives from CIVAS.

The act aimed to increase public awareness on ongoing rabies incidents throughout the country.

Currently only 9 of 33 provinces in Indonesia are free from rabies: Papua, West Papua, West Nusa Tenggara, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyakarta, East Java and Central Java. The event also hopes people will know more about rabies and participate in preventing and mitigating it by vaccinating their pets.

During the act, participants handed out leaflets, paper flowers and bookmarks with information on rabies to Monas visitors and Jakarta residents. IMAKAHI and CIVAS also launched a blog on rabies in Indonesia at: www.rabiesindonesia.co.cc. The event was closed with a theatrical drama from Steril Art Community of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University. The drama emphasized on the importance of vaccinating dogs against rabies. (rie, van & eri)