Sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination camp
Total of 259 dogs and 4 cats were sterilized in the dog sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination camp held from Oct. 14 to 25, 2004 in Dharamsala .
A huge increase in the total of stray dogs in Dharamsala has been of serious health concern for sometime, the chief amongst these being rabies ("mad dog"). Not a year passes by without news of deaths, especially of minors due to rabies. In extremely poor state of living they are just too many to be well fed, and cared for in the manner they usually have.
Until a year ago, the customary solution was poisoning. Upon request, the local municipal committee sent men to poison stray dogs in the areas specified. When poisoned, dogs die slowly in great agony. This of course is extremely painful not only to dogs but also to humans, as those who chance to see it happening, are left with a deep sense of remorse and guilt.
An alternative then was to transport stray dogs to a distant land, from where they cannot find their way back. This obviously is not a healthy thing to do, especially for the residents of the place where they are unloaded.
Search for alternative measures resulted in the sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination as the best short- and long- term remedy.
Thus, the first of such camps took place last year in Dharamsala. With technical assistance from Palampur College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences and Blue Cross Society of Himachal Pardesh, and logistics arranged by the department, 83 stray dogs were vaccinated against rabies and 8 male stray dogs sterilized.
This was followed by a similar camp at Mundgod Doeguling Tibetan Settlement later that year, with technical assistance from veterinary surgeons from Denmark and Sweden, through the Denmark Tibet Charity Trust. In this camp nearly 300 dogs were either vaccinated against rabies or sterilized. Logistics for the camp was arranged by the Doeguling Tibetan Resettlement Hospital.
The sterilization performed in Mundgod was in many ways more advantageous than what was done in Dharamsala. In Dharamsala only male stray dogs were sterilized, while in Mundgod all stray dogs, irrespective of its sex were sterilized. The former needed a minimum one-week of intensive care after sterilization, the latter for only an hour or less. The former was performed mostly by students, the latter by veterinarians.
Thus, the need to replicate the Mundgod project in Dharamsala.
A team of Scandinavian professionals consisting of five doctors, two veterinarian nurse, and four helpers agreed to work voluntarily, and to bring along all the necessary veterinarian equipment and medicine.
Medicines and equipment left behind in Mundgod last year, were transported to Dharamsala. Refrigerator for the storage of medicine was purchased here in Dharamsala.
The department and Dharamsala Welfare Office was to arrange logistics such as tents, power, water, furniture, and to hired people to pick up stray dogs. Furthermore, the department was also responsible for finding appropriate sites in Mcleod Ganj, Gangchen Kyishong and the Tibetan Children’s Village for the camp and to assign adequate staff (three) of its own to coordinate throughout the camp.
The department now is exploring if the same could be replicated in some other places.
Refresher training on data
Refresher training on health data collection was held at Songtsen Library, Dehra Dun from 23 to 25 Sept., 2003. Community health workers in Doon valley and Himachal State, 13 in all, attended this training. Mr. Kelsang Tsering, of the department’s data unit, was the resource person.
The training was to address the inadequacies found in the collection, entry, and reporting of health data. Besides, it also introduced the participants to the revised TB data form.
Evaluation conducted at the end of the training reflected well on its benefit.
Training in detection of disabilities
Health workers in North India and the region of Doon Valley, 23 in total, were trained for early detection of various forms of disabilities found in people in general, and in particular of new born babies from Oct. 14 to 16 for three days at Songtsen Library in Dehra Dun.
Particular mention must be made of Ms. Nicola Tansley from England, who not only provided this training to health workers, but also has been instrumental in the making of comprehensive strategy to promote the welfare of persons with disabilities. The department deeply appreciates her benevolent voluntary service. We look forward to many more years of her continued support.
Workshop on treatment of the traumatized
A workshop on the treatment of traumatized refugees was organized at the Songtsen Library, Dehra Dun from 21 to 23 Oct., 2003.
Two doctors of Tibetan Sorigpa (Indigenous System of Medicine), two allopathic doctors and 13 health personnel of various capacities attended this workshop.
Ms. Anne Viveke from Denmark was the resource person for this workshop.
Dental refresher training
From October 7 to 16, a dental refresher training was organized at Upper TCV, Dharamsala.
Attendees were 10 health personnel of various capacities from Mundgod, Orissa, Bir, THF Mussoorie, Dekyling, TCV Ladakh, TCV Suja, Delek Hospital, and Upper TCV. Dr. Daryll Andrews was the resource person.
