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by Sagarica Rajakarunanayake

"Dogs have a right to be free of rabies." This enlightened and even revolutionary view came from the soft-spoken representative of the WHO in Sri Lanka, Dr. Kan Tun, when addressing participants at the first meeting of the National Committee For Rabies Elimination in August 2001. It is indeed the first time a WHO representative or any official of the National Health Services has ever shown humanity and courage enough to publicly acknowledge that dogs, the principal carriers of rabies, are also victims of this dreaded disease. His words are also a reminder to us of the responsibility of humans to eradicate this disease and free not only ourselves but also helpless animals from it.

Dr. Kan Tun also stated that in order to prevent rabies, the dog population must be controlled. However, also he stressed every endeavour must be made to do it humanely. This is not only the view of the gentle doctor, but also the view of WHO rabies experts who recommend in their guidelines that rabies control programs should be humanely carried out. WHO is also of the view that strategies for combating rabies should be evolved in accordance with the beliefs and cultures of each particular country in which it is done.

They advise against the implementing of dog elimination programs in Buddhist/Hindu societies where the killing of animals is not condoned. For the benefit of cynics who try to say that compassion to animals is now dead in this country, we would point out to them stray our dog population that owes its survival largely to the tolerance of people, as the surest sign that compassion is very much alive amongst our people.

Despite the presence of a representative of the WHO in our country and our officials regularly attending conferences in Geneva on rabies control, at which they are updated on the latest research findings and strategies, it is unfortunate that rabies control authorities here have totally disregarded the sensibilities of the people, as well as, the recommendations of the WHO experts and continued the old colonial practice of the brutal destruction of dogs. Although the success rate of the dog elimination program remains low, a mere 5% of the total dog population, which is totally ineffective in eradicating rabies, the authorities stubbornly persist in this negative exercise.

How could the National Anti Rabies Campaign be put on a humanitarian course that is acceptable to the people of this country? After years of turning a deaf ear to the public and animal welfare organizations asking for a humane campaign, the rabies authorities have invited some welfare groups to serve on a task force for the prevention and eradication of rabies. Broad-basing the anti rabies campaign could be seen as a sign of moving towards liberalization and humanization of the campaign.

The genuineness of such a tendency depends on how soon the rabies control authorities will shift the emphasis from the negative destruction program to other positive and humane solutions recommended by the WHO. Some of the most important of these solutions are, intensified vaccination campaigns, including door to door visits to households; providing veterinary services through local councils and veterinary offices where vaccinations and sterilizations are regularly carried out.

However, to ensure sustainability of the campaign and carry the message of the rabies control authorities to the people, the WHO recommends the involvement of the local community in the campaign. School children, the clergy and community leaders must be brought into the program particularly with regard to community education and public cooperation. This is indeed the answer to the constant complaint of the rabies control authorities that they can do little other than the destruction program because of the lack of funds and cadres. Mobilizing the community does not require huge funds and cadres, and if done seriously, will start an on going process which will support the anti rabies campaign to it's successful conclusion.

In fact not only with regard to rabies but on all the other tropical and communicable diseases too, WHO has pointed out the importance of community participation and public cooperation. The validity of this recommendation is borne out by the observation of the Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. Ananda Amerasinghe, of the Epidemiology Unit on the campaign currently being carried out against dengue fever that has already claimed the lives of several children and adults. It is his view that although the Cabinet has approved the tightening of laws against Dengue offenders, the success of the campaign would still depend largely on public cooperation.

Most important in putting the campaign on a humane course, is that the officials leading the anti rabies campaign and their staff must adopt a new outlook of sympathetic understanding of animals they deal with. However, it is unlikely that there would be a sea change in the outlook of the rabies authorities that in the past several decades seem to have been entrenched in a policy of ruthless destruction, unless a change of policy in the National Anti Rabies Campaign is declared from the highest level.

The Minister must declare a National Policy that upholds the humane treatment of dogs and other animals in implementing the programme for the prevention and eradication of Rabies. After over half a century of the brutal massacring of man's best friend in this Buddhist country, it is time the highest in the land, H.E. the President and the Hon. Prime Minister, both known to have great sympathy for animals, issued a message that brutalities to these animals must be stopped and the anti rabies campaign be conducted on humane lines.

This is not asking for too much. As pointed out earlier, there is the example set by the WHO representative himself, calling for a humane campaign. If we look around at other Buddhist countries in Asia such as Thailand and Burma we will find the state looks on dog populations, with compassion. In Thailand the King, a great lover of animals, takes a personal interest in the welfare of dogs. It is reported how he had recently rescued and adopted a dog from the street.

He had ordered T-shirts to be produced with the dog's picture printed on it and put on sale and the proceeds used for the welfare of street dogs. We must not forget our own traditions where Kings gave protection of the law to animals and saw to their welfare by acts such as setting up of animal hospitals.

Only by humanizing the campaign and ensuring community participation and public cooperation that dog populations can be effectively controlled and rabies eradicated in this country.

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