Training Empowers Health Workers to Tackle Rabies in Eastern Nepal

 FAIRMED's initiative helps strengthen health systems for rabies management in Koshi Province.

From November 24–25, 2024, a comprehensive two-day training on Rabies Disease Management was conducted in Biratnagar, hosted by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) with financial and technical support from the FAIRMED/BISWAS project. The program brought together 22 participants from government hospitals and health facilities in Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari, including medical officers, health workers, and representatives from FAIRMED and SAHARA.

Led by Dr. Hemanta Ojha, Senior Medical Superintendent and Section Chief of EDCD, the training addressed critical challenges in rabies management, including:

  • Shortages of Anti-Rabies Vaccines (ARV): Underreporting has impacted vaccine quantification and procurement.
  • Lack of Coordination: Collaboration gaps among hospital departments, local governments, and stakeholders, including the livestock sector, were identified.
  • Underreporting of Cases: Insufficient reporting of vaccine consumption and dog bites affects effective intervention planning.

The training featured expert facilitators like Dr. Pradeep Prajapati from Teku Hospital, Bihari Mahato from EDCD, and Dr. Laxmi Narayan Yadav from Koshi Federal Hospital. Government officials, including the Health Secretary of Koshi Province and directors from PHLMC, PHD, and PHTC, attended, expressing their commitment to addressing these systemic issues.

Participants committed to applying their learning, ensuring better reporting systems, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the goal of zero rabies deaths by 2030. Dr. Ojha and other officials commended FAIRMED's contributions, emphasizing the need for continued support in strengthening the health system.

As a next step, FAIRMED aims to focus on:

  • Strengthening reporting systems for ARV usage.
  • Enhancing stakeholder collaboration through a One Health approach.
  • Advocacy efforts to ensure vaccine availability and robust rabies prevention strategies.