Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health Program
Download the
VBB SARAH 2008 project report.
Download the
VBB SARAH September 2008 project report.
SARAH stands for Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health Programme. The state
of Sikkim is nestled in the Himalayan foothills of North-Eastern India.
Vets Beyond Borders works in partnership with the Government of Sikkim and
the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to enable this project. This extensive state-wide
ABC - AR programme is now fully funded however it requires the generous
and dedicated work of volunteer veterinarians and veterinary nurses to continue. Since 2005 volunteer veterinarians and veterinary nurses, from Australia
and overseas, have made the journey to Sikkim to participate in the program.
If you are interested in volunteering in 2009, contact beth.mcgennisken@vetsbeyondborders.org
How the project works
The local staff that VBB work with are invaluable, they are the team members who keep
things running as volunteers come and go. They are out at first light catching
dogs (the most important job) and then are kept busy all day, being trained
in the skills required to prepare the animals for surgery and to clean and
pack surgical kits prior to autoclaving.
There is a lot of other work to be done. Community education and public
awareness campaigns are vital components of the project. The benefits of
a successful, state-wide programme are not limited to the dogs alone. The
reduction in the incidence of other zoonotic diseases, such as Scabies,
Hookworm and Echinococcosis, also contributes greatly to public health.
Public welfare is improved through effective Rabies prevention, following
the creation of a stable, vaccinated, street-dog population. The community
attitude to street-dogs is improved as a result of the reduced numbers without
the need for violent and distressing culls. The work holds the potential
to be of great worth to dog and human populations alike.
VBB's goal is to be able to hand-over the operation of the project to local
veterinarians in three-to-five years.
Summary
-
Highlights
- Funding for current financial year approved by programme sponsors, Fondation Brigitte Bardot and the Government of Sikkim
- Administrative changes planned to ensure long-term future of the programme
- Third unit due to commence work in the new Ravangla district street-dog clinic
- Third unit due to commence work in the new Ravangla district street-dog clinic
- Landmark meeting, hosted by Vets Beyond Borders in Gangtok, promises close collaboration between government departments, police, armed forces, local NGO's and media on animal welfare and public health issues