Immunoglobulin, a vaccine against rabies, will be provided free from nine major hospitals of Nepal starting from November 21. The vaccine is administered around the wound of the bite, with an aim to inactive the rabies virus.
Birodh Khatiwada, Minister of Health and Population, at a press meet held today, informed that nine major hospitals will provide free immunoglobulin vaccine from November 21. The nine major hospitals are Koshi hospital, Biratnagar, Janakpur Hospital, Dhanusha, Madan Bhandari Academy of Health Sciences, Heatuda, Narayani Hospital, Birjung, Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Lumbini Hospital, Butwal, Surkhet Hospital, Surkhet and Seti Provincial Hospital, Dhangadhi.
Minister Khatiwada said, “We target to reduce rabies cases to zero till 2030, with three processes, that is awareness, vaccinating stray dogs and animals as well as implementing new policies if needed.”
“Earlier, immunoglobulin was provided only in Sukraraj Tropical hospital. However, sighting the increasing rabies cases in the country, we decided to expand it in each province,” said Minister Khatiwada.
Dr. Krishna Prasad Poudel, MoHP spokesperson, said, “We have categorised the bite exposure of animals, which spread rabies from unvaccinated animals. The first is just licking of animals, the second is small scratched, and the third is big wounds or lick in the wounds by unvaccinated animals. Generally, unvaccinated animals, which have rabies in the mucus membrane, can spread rabies to humans by licking, scratching, and biting. Immunoglobulin will be given to those in the third category and to those who have not received any anti-rabies vaccine earlier.”
First and second degree bite are administered with Anti-rabies vaccine. Annually, around 100 cases of rabies are detected in Nepal. Of them, 15-20 lose their lives. The most bitten wounds are related to dog bite.
Source : TRN,
