The world rabies day 2008 was organized at The Indus Hospital, on September 27, 2008. The world rabies day campaign is held each year for raising awareness and resources to enhance prevention and control of rabies with the overall vision of successefull human rabies prevention and elimination of dog to dog transmission of rabies.

 

Rabies is a terrible yet preventable disease with approximately half of all human rabies deaths occurring in children under the age of 15. 

The function started at 10-30 a.m. Bushra Ansari the famous TV artist was gracious enough to become the chief guest to enlighten the program. A large number of audience mainly the school kids and their parents attended the function.

The program started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Dr. Amin Chinoy.

Dr. Farhana Amanullah briefed the audience about rabies, its public health importance and prevention. Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, CEO of Indus hospital also spoke on the occasion and gave a brief introduction of Indus hospital and its activities regarding rabies.                    

Mrs. Bushra Ansari narrated a story to the audience about a kid who was bitten by a rabid dog, the misconception the general public has about its prevention and care. She also explained the correct measures to be taken at the incidence by the parents. She ended the program with a song in the background of clapping.

The school kids from different schools performed 4 skits about rabies and were applauded by the audience. Students from the following schools attended the function:

• Government Boys School Bhittai Colony
• Behbood
• Citizen Education Development Foundation (CEDF)
• Frobel and
• Karachi Grammar School (KGS)

Free gifts which included rabies day T shirts, hats, kid’s goody bags, biscuits, juices and flavored milk, were distributed to the participants.

The program came to an end with national anthem sung by the school students.  

In the run up to WRD 2008 there were press briefings, TV and radio talk shows and viewing of a rabies docudrama for the entire week in the waiting room of the filter clinic where more than 200 patients visit at any given time during clinic hours. The docudrama video depicts a child who gets bitten after teasing a stray dog, the improper reaction of onlookers, the proper management, and ending with messages we wish to convey to children and care givers. Thousands of informative flyers were distributed in homes, schools and at bus stops, and banners were strung up on road crossings to announce WRD.

The center of activity on WRD was at the Indus Hospital in Korangi, Karachi which is in the middle of a 2.5 million underprivileged population. More than a 1000 children, their parents, teachers, volunteers, hospital staff and faculty converged under a tent. The morning started with screening of the docudrama, followed by songs and skits prepared by school children and interspersed with jokes and comments by Pakistan’s famous TV personality Bushra Ansari. The audience joined in with enthusiastic applause and loud clapping. The children were entertained with face painting, and given treats of cookies, milk, WRD logo engraved T shirts, caps, buttons and balloons.

WRD inaugurated “Friends of Rabies in Asia”. Membership forms were distributed for a fee of Rs 100/ (USD 1.5). Fees and donations were receipted and will be used for on going awareness programs. Indus Hospital announced opening of their new Dog bite Management Center where doctors and nurses are trained in WHO recommended management.

Press reviews were vociferously positive in terms of the awareness created. Most of all thousands of families understood the seriousness of dog bite and the proper course they should follow to prevent the deadly disease Rabies.