Guided poster viewing session: Dr Mary Joy Gordoncillo
Report of the workshop
19
Multisectoral cooperation is a vital area in planning, implementing and monitoring rabies control strategies. Important activities such as dog
vaccination and sterilization need contribution from the animal health and local governments to complement public health activities. These activities
are currently being implemented with the support from human health and animal health sectors. A National Steering Committee and a National
Technical Committee with the participation of relevant stakeholders have already been established and are functioning.
Dog rabies vaccination, which was conducted only by the public health sector in the past, is now been implemented in collaboration with
the animal health sector. Amendment of rabies ordinances has been initiated in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government. Veterinary
Investigation
Officers have
been trained
on direct
rapid immunohistochemical test dRIT through the WHO-supported joint
training programme. There are few challenges in the rabies control activities in Sri Lanka.
The rapid turnover and dog population dynamics are challenges to achieve sustained high herd immunity. Though conducting a mass islandwide mop-
up campaign is important to improve dog vaccination coverage, mobilizing logistics and resources for such a mop-up mass vaccination campaign
short-term for three months is difficult. In addition, there is lack of an islandwide rabies surveillance network and lack of stray dog control
settings, which affects the control activities.
The way forward for Sri Lanka is to practice the One Health approach with effective cooperation among the major stakeholders. The commitment
for rabies control should be at all levels, including good coordination among partners, joint planning and implementation and joint monitoring
and evaluation.