1,823 Cases Throughout 2023, Government Immediately Forms Rabies Emergency Task Force In NTT

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy emphasized that the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) should immediately form a rabies emergency task force (task force) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

"Based on the results of the ministerial level meeting, BNPB immediately formed an integrated task force for handling the rabies emergency in NTT at the request of the Governor of NTT," Muhadjir said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 21.

He explained, until November 15, 2023, the NTT Provincial Health Office had reported to the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) that there were 1,823 cases of rabies-infectious animal bites in Timor Timur Selatan and East Timor districts that caused 11 fatalities.

The results of the ministerial meeting also emphasized that BNPB should immediately establish disaster management status in certain parts as the basis for handling extraordinary events and rabies emergency in NTT Province.

Then, Muhadjir also emphasized that BNPB should use ready-to-use funds to support the operation of the rabies handling task force, including the addition of vaccines and equipment needed for rabies vaccines.

"We will focus on the emergency handling to be taken over by BNPB, including coordination with the center, later involving the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, as well as the required operational funds," he said.

He said, there were proposals from local governments and local provincial governments so that operational funds were allocated to local governments, but the central government assessed that local governments were not ready for it.

"We ask the local government to collect data on animals that have the potential to carry rabies disease, especially dogs. So, I have asked for data collection on dogs in NTT," he said.

Thus, he said, the handling of rabies, which has been set to become endemic in areas where the high number of cases such as NTT can be resolved properly.

Previously, a scientist who is also the Chancellor of Cendana Kupang University, NTT, Prof. Maxs EU Sanam said that handling rabies-carrying animals, especially in NTT, cannot be done without the role of the community.

"To deal with rabies in NTT requires awareness from the community itself to control and supervise pets by being tied up and vaccinated," said Maxs Sanam.