Panaji: Mission Rabies is replicating Goa’s rabies-control model across 36 districts in 12 states, after the state became India’s first to achieve 100% rabies control.The organisation initially faced difficulties securing permission to begin its programme in Rajasthan. Following the resistance, chief minister Pramod Sawant personally wrote to his Rajasthan counterpart, urging the state to facilitate the programme.“I wrote to the Rajasthan chief minister that Goa is a place where there is the best practice of rabies control. As a result, the same practice is being replicated in Jaipur,” Sawant said.Rajasthan govt subsequently approved the programme, which began about six months ago. Mission Rabies director of education Dr Murugan Appupillai said the programme includes vaccination, education and surveillance, besides sterilisation activities.“The Goa model’s success has led to its expansion into 36 districts across 12 states in collaboration with local govts, and it is also being adopted in nearly 20 countries. Since Jan this year, no rabies virus has been detected anywhere in Goa either in humans or in animals,” he said.
