JAMMU, Sep 29: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv. Devraj Sharma on World Rabies Day called for a sustained, coordinated strategy to prevent rabies in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that the observance must go beyond awareness programmes and translate into year-round action.Sharma said healthcare preparedness is the need of the hour, particularly in rural and remote areas, where timely access to medical care can be critical following an animal bite. He called for ensuring that healthcare workers are adequately trained in bite management, referral procedures and post-exposure protocols.
Referring to the World Rabies Day initiative at PHC Soibugh, where 48 identified high-risk individuals received pre-exposure vaccination and doctors and paramedical staff were trained in exposure management and post-exposure prophylaxis, Sharma said such initiatives should be strengthened and replicated wherever required.
He stressed that prevention must begin before an animal bite occurs, with greater focus on dog vaccination, surveillance and scientific management of free-roaming animal populations. He also called for closer coordination between health, veterinary, municipal and rural-development authorities.
Sharma said responsible pet ownership is equally important, urging pet owners to ensure timely vaccination and responsible management of their animals. He added that public safety and animal welfare should go together, with animal-management measures based on scientific and humane practices.
“The real question is not what we do on World Rabies Day, but what happens throughout the year. Are animal-bite cases being properly reported? Can people in remote areas access timely treatment? Are health and veterinary authorities sharing information? These are the questions that require sustained attention,” he said.
The BJP leader also called for greater awareness among schoolchildren and communities about safe interaction with animals and the need to seek immediate medical attention following a potentially risky exposure.Referring to the theme “Stronger Together,” Sharma said rabies prevention requires collective responsibility involving government departments, healthcare professionals, veterinary authorities, educational institutions, local bodies, pet owners and the public.
“Jammu and Kashmir needs to move from reactive measures to sustained prevention. World Rabies Day should serve as a reminder that rabies is preventable and that our objective must be to ensure that no life is lost because of lack of awareness, delayed treatment or inadequate preparedness,” Sharma said.