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Opinion

Rabies Control and Veterinary Authority

With rabies still in Bali, we are again shocked by the news of rabies outbreak in Nias Island. As of other small islands around Sumatra Island, Nias was previously historically free from rabies. But as rabies emerged in Bengkalis and Rupat islands in March 2009, Nias has now been infected by the disease as well.
Sumatra Island itself does have considerably high cases of rabies. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture stated there were 2,600 bite cases in Sumatra in 2008. From specimens submitted for laboratory diagnosis, 73.4% were positive for rabies. With high numbers of rabies cases in Sumatra, small islands surrounding Sumatra, which are historically rabies free because the sea acted as a natural barrier, are at high risk of contracting the disease.

Choosing A Healthy Sacrificial Animal

Gusti Muhammad SofyanoorEach year, Moslems celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice by sacrificing livestock. To conduct the sacrificial ceremony perfectly, it must be started with sincerity and fitting sacrificial animals.
A sacrificial animal is said to be fitting if it meets with several requirements stated in the Islam law. Sacrificed animals are large livestock animals. In Indonesia, common sacrificial animals are cattle, water buffalos, goats, and sheep. Another criterion is the animal must be male and has the proper age (over 1 year). A sacrificial animal must overall have good physical presentations without any physical impairment. At livestock yards, often people miss noticing several body parts of the animal they intend to sacrifice, for example torn ears, broken horns, castrated bulls, and in some cases mutilated tails. Some people even sell animals with broken legs at very cheap prices.

CIVAS STATEMENT ON INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

Since mid April 2009, the world has been shocked by the outbreak of influenza H1N1 in humans. In the beginning, this disease was called Swine Influenza because it is genetically closer to swine influenza viruses than human influenza viruses. But the term Swine Influenza was considered inappropriate because according to the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) the virus that is currently causing the outbreak, influenza A (H1N1), is purely transmitted from human to human and there is no evidence so far that it is present in swine or that humans are contracting the disease from swine (OIE 2009). Therefore, it is now referred to as influenza A (H1N1).

Veterinarians and livestock farmers, a winning partnership

In this era, more than before, there have been many animal disease outbreaks. Some of the diseases could be transmitted to human (zoonoses) causing turbulence in global social and economy and generating panic at national, regional and even global level. These recent crises illustrate how serious animal health issues could globally influence the economy and consumers, and that it is a relevant threat to public health. 

In the context of organism as disease agents, 1,415 species have been identified to cause disease in humans, comprising of 217 kinds of viruses and prion, 538 kinds of bacteria and rickettsias, 307 kinds of fungi, 66 kinds of protozoa, and 287 kinds of worms. From 1,415 species, 868 species (68%) are classified as zoonoses and 175 species of pathogens are associated with new diseases. From the group of 176 new emerging pathogens, 132 species (75%) are zoonoses (Cleaveland et al, 2001).

Start the ‘One Health’ Concept to Fight Against Zoonotic Diseases

The newest global development is heading towards the importance of widely and continuously introducing a new concept, ‘one world, one medicine, one health’. Experts in many countries demand a more integrated and synergized cooperation between veterinarians and doctors to anticipate the emergence of zoonotic diseases with epidemic potentials.

Until this day, human medicine and veterinary medicine are still seen as two separated sectors or entities almost in all countries. Obviously veterinarians by law are not allowed to treat humans and doctors almost never treat animals. But in reality, there are many overlapping between these two sectors, moreover on issues concerning public health and control of animal diseases that could be transmitted to human (zoonoses).

Steps and Strategi of Veterinary NGO in Implementation of Veterinary Authority in Indonesia

Definition of NGO
According to UN, NGO is a non profit non government organization, made voluntarily by the public, at local or international scale, and aims to improve public welfare. NGOs are made with certain objectives by a group of people with the same vision. NGOs conducts various social services and functions, addresses the public demands to the government, monitor implementation of government policies and programs, and encourages public participation in the policy making process of the country. NGO also provides analysis and consultation, and acts as an early warning system for the government and assists in monitoring implementation of international agreements in a country.