To be held from Feb 24-28; campaign to include rabies elimination
Panaji: The state government will launch a comprehensive rabies elimination campaign in Bardez taluka starting February 21, Animal Husbandry Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar announced on Thursday. The programme will also see nearly 15,000 stray dogs neutered at the WVS Hicks Training Centre in Assagao.
“All wards and panchayats across Bardez taluka will be covered, ensuring that both stray and pet dogs receive rabies vaccinations and are sterilised,” Halarnkar said about the campaign, which is being held in collaboration with Mission Rabies.
Three rabies-positive cases were detected in the taluka over 2023 and 2024.
Educational activities will begin on February 21, while vaccination and sterilisation drives will take place from February 24 to 28. Vaccination sessions will be conducted from 6.30 am to 11.30 am and 3 pm to 6 pm daily.
The campaign will involve around 1,500 people, including 32 vaccination teams, five education teams, one surveillance team, 12 international volunteers, 19 veterinarians, 40 student volunteers, and 1,000 school students.
Halarnkar said that despite achieving 100 per cent rabies vaccination in the state, Goa remains at risk due to its borders with Maharashtra and Karnataka. He added that the growing street dog population makes it important to carry out sterilisation drives, which is being addressed through collaboration with the World Animal Veterinary Service (WAVS).
