India loses about 5700 lives every year because of Rabies. Lack of awareness about proper prevention, timely vaccination and complete medication serves as the root cause of this situation.
On the occasion of World Rabies Day, Prayatn Sanstha, therefore, organized a rabies awareness activity at Lohati village in Sirsiya Block, Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh, under the SBI Sanjeevani Clinic On Wheels project, with the financial support of SBI Foundation.
During the session, Project Officer Mr. Sundar Singh explained that World Rabies Day is observed every year on 28 September to raise awareness about rabies prevention, vaccination, responsible care of domestic animals, and the importance of seeking timely medical treatment after a dog or other animal bite. He emphasized that individuals bitten by an animal should immediately visit a healthcare facility and receive the recommended anti-rabies vaccination.
Medical Officer, Dr. Suyash Maurya, explained that rabies is a life-threatening infectious disease that can be transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. He explained that the virus affects the central nervous system and is primarily transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. He further highlighted that dogs are responsible for the majority of human rabies cases globally.
The Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) team members advised community members that anyone bitten by a potentially infected animal should immediately visit a healthcare facility and seek appropriate anti-rabies treatment. They emphasized that timely medical attention is essential for preventing the progression of the disease. The team also highlighted that people sometimes rely on home remedies or traditional practices, such as applying chilli, turmeric, salt or oil, or seeking faith-based treatments, instead of going to a healthcare facility after an animal bite. They emphasized that delaying or avoiding vaccination can have life-threatening consequences and advised community members not to neglect such incidents. The team also stressed the importance of ensuring that domestic dogs and other susceptible animals receive anti-rabies vaccinations regularly.
Project Officer, Mr. Sundar Singh, further shared that Prayatn Sanstha, through the SBI Sanjeevani Clinic on Wheels project, is providing healthcare services and conducting awareness activities on the prevention of diseases across 20 selected villages in Hariharpur Rani and Sirsiya Blocks.
The activity was supported by the active participation of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) – Ms. Razia Beghum, former Gram Pradhan – Mr. Ram Karan, and other community stakeholders.
The awareness activity witnessed active participation from 128 community members, including 75 women and 53 men.
