1
HEALTH SERVICES DELIVERY
1.4
DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMME
1.4.2.e
Communicable Diseases Control:
Rabies & Other Zoonotic diseases control (As of March 2008)
D.D.G. (PHS)
A Focal Point
Public Health Veterinary Services
B Implementing Agencies
C Target Areas & Beneficiaries General population and entire island.
Project Summary:
Rabies has been a significant health problem in Sri Lanka for a long time. The social and economic
losses from this public health problem have not been computed but would be substantial. It is a
matter for concern that mortality is highest among the younger age group, in whom the nation
has invested heavily by way of human resource development.
Being an island Sri Lanka can achieve great economic benefits as well as save human lives through
rabies elimination, due to the fact that once eliminated, an island will find it easier to prevent
reintroduction of rabies from other countries. Hence, it is imperative for the government to
invest in a rabies control program. The knowledge base with regard to control and prevention of
rabies has expanded substantially over the recent past. A sound technical base therefore exists for
the launching of new national initiatives for rabies elimination.
Goal of National Rabies control program is to eliminate Human Rabies through elimination of
canine rabies by year 2016. In all provinces capacity is lacking for the implementation of a
comprehensive rabies control program.
1. Justification:
Rabies has been a major public health problem in Sri Lanka for a long time and the mortality in
2007 was 0.3/1000,000 population.. The social and economic losses from this public health
problem are substantial. In 2007 RS. 200 million worth vaccines and serum has been used to
provide Rabies post exposure treatment for dog bite victims. It is a matter for concern that
mortality is highest among the younger age group, in whom the nation has invested heavily
by way of human resource development.
The geography of Sri Lanka allows the elimination of rabies which in turn can achieve
great economic benefits as well as save human lives, due to the fact that once eliminated, an
island will find it easier to prevent reintroduction of rabies from other countries. Hence, it is
imperative for the government to invest in a rabies control program. The knowledge base with
regard to control and prevention of rabies has expanded substantially over the recent past. A
sound technical base therefore exists for the launching of new national initiatives for rabies
elimination.
Rabies has been neglected disease during previous centuries as a result people are continually
suffering from the incurable, horrible deadly rabies. All the tools are available for Rabies
Elimination, Co-ordination of effective rabies elimination strategy through the effective Plan
with adequate priority will eventually lead to elimination of the disease. Once eradicated, Sri
Lanka could be easily kept as rabies Free State. The objective of the project is to eliminate
rabies from the country.
2. Important Assumptions/Risks/Conditions:
Provincial Councils and Local Authorities should provide adequate support for development of
human resources and policy implementation required for rabies elimination strategies.
3. Project Objective:
Objective
Indicators
Means of Verification
Elimination of Human Rabies by ∎ No. of Human Rabies ∎ Weekly
year 2016.
Cases
per
100,000 Report
population
Epidemiological
Minimize the transmission of
Japanese Encephalitis from pigs. ∎ Incidence of J.E.
4. Project Output/Product:
Output
Indicators
Means of Verification
Ability
to
conduct
mass ∎ Number of Districts ∎
Through
review
at
vaccination programs to achieve with all facilities for annual Performance
Development
over 80% coverage in owned mass
immunization Meetings.
dogs.
campaigns for dogs
Ability of District Health Staff ∎ Number of Districts
to reach stray dogs for Rabies with required all facilities
Vaccination strengthen.
to conduct vaccination
campaigns for community
dogs and stray dogs
Human resources for Rabies ∎ Number and categories
Elimination in District and of staff trained
National level developed
The
stray dog
population
minimized
Community
support
and
multisectoral collaboration of
Rabies Elimination improved
∎ Stray dog estimates
∎
Through
Performance
Meetings
review
at
Development
∎
Through
Performance
Meetings
review
at
Development
∎ Field survey
∎ No of District and ∎
Through
Divisional
rabies Performance
elimination
committees Meetings
effective
review
at
Development
Collaborative
partnership
is
established for control of Japanese
Encephalitis transmission pigs
through vaccination
∎ No. of Districts with ∎
Through
effective
partnership Performance
collaboration with Dept of Meetings
Animal Production and
Health
review
at
Development
5. Related Projects:
N.A.
6. Relevant Agencies to be Coordinated:
•
•
•
•
•
Local Authorities
Provincial Health Services
Non Governmental Organizations
Department of Animal Production and Health.
Ministry of Public Administration
7. Monitoring & Evaluation
1. Who? Director Public Health Veterinary Services
2. When? Periodically every 3 months.
3. What actions to be taken based on results of monitoring & evaluation?
Actions will be decided by Director Public Health Veterinary Services in consultation
with Members of Project Development Committee and Ministry of Health on the basis
of problems and opportunities.
8. Activities:
Activities
Expected Results
Process Indicators
1
Improve the transport facilities for dog vaccinations to visit villages
Operation of Dog Vaccinations in every village annually.
No. of dog Vaccinations
2
Expand community /stray dog vaccination program.
Stop rabies transmission at public places
No. of Community dog Vaccinations.
3
Establish chemical and surgical sterilization Program for Stray dogs.
Reduction of dog population from present 3 million to 2 million
No. of dogs Sterilized.
4
Collaborative partnership is established for control of Japanese Encephalitis transmission pigs
through vaccination
Collaborative partnership is established for control of Japanese Encephalitis transmission pigs
through vaccination
Through review at Performance Development Meetings
5
Launching mass awareness Programs on Rabies
Incre No. of Awareness Programs conducted.
ased
com
muni
ty
parti
cipat
ion
6 Recruitment of Veterinary Surgeons Improved Operational No. of personnel recruited
for Management and Conduction of Management
and
Animal Birth Control Program
establishment
Of
Humane
dog
population
Control
Programs
7
All categories and
Development of Human Resources for relevant Officers are
knowledgeable
on
Rabies Control Prevention
Rabies Prevention
8 Expansion of Rabies diagnostic Rabies
diagnostic
facilities
facilities in peripheral
Provinces.
9 Formation
of
District
Rabies Partnership
Elimination Action Committees
collaboration of other
Agencies like Local
Authorities,
N.G.O.etc
Dept
A.P.& H.
10 Strengthen the Control and Monitoring Continuous
of Rabies Control Activities
improvement of the
Project to reach rabies
elimination
No. of Training Programs
conducted
No.of suspected
examined.
No.
of
formed
heads
Committees
No.
of
Performance
Management
Meetings
held.