ORV Sarawak: 5,500 Dogs Vaccinated Within Two Weeks
KUCHING: The integrated efforts of various agencies and strategic partners in combating rabies in Sarawak continue to show positive progress, with approximately 5,500 dogs successfully vaccinated within a fortnight through the implementation of parenteral and Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) programmes.
The President of the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), Datin Sri Dona Drury Wee, stated that this achievement is the result of nearly two years of meticulous planning, strategic coordination, and ongoing commitment since the Rabies in Borneo Conference 2024.
According to her, the success was also driven by the comprehensive involvement of various parties, including veterinary teams, field staff, and behind-the-scenes technical support covering logistics, training, data management, and community engagement.
"This comprehensive approach allows us to reach not only pets but also stray and free-roaming dogs, thereby closing a critical gap in the fight against rabies," she said.
She made these remarks during her speech at an appreciation ceremony for the ORV programme implementation team here on Friday.
In the meantime, she urged pet owners to be more responsible by ensuring their animals are vaccinated, noting that such measures protect not only the animals but also the safety of families and the community as a whole.
"There is no excuse for inaction. Vaccination is a shared responsibility in ensuring that public wellbeing remains protected," she stressed.
Commenting further, she said that rabies eradication efforts do not stop at vaccination alone, they also involve field studies to identify dog and cat populations, as well as assessing public awareness regarding the programmes being conducted.
She explained that these findings are vital in helping the government draft policies and strengthen intervention strategies that are more effective and sustainable in the future.
In an effort to strengthen the sharing of knowledge and best practices, the public is invited to participate in the Rabies in Asia Conference, which will be held alongside the Rabies in Borneo programme from 29 September to 1 October at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
The conference is jointly organised by Place Borneo Sdn Bhd and the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak as a platform for exchanging global expertise and exploring new approaches to tackling rabies.
Datin Sri Dona also emphasised that the effort to eliminate rabies requires the collective commitment of all parties, including the government, organisations, civil society, and local communities.
She also expressed her appreciation to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak, the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre, and the Sarawak Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG), as well as international partners such as the World Veterinary Service, Mission Rabies, and Ceva Santé Animale’ for their technical expertise and training support.-UKASnews
