The Ministry of Health, said Dr. Ziad Memish, Assistant Deputy Minister for Preventative Medicine, pays through attention to Rabies, being one of the common (zoonotic) diseases that affect human and animal health.
This statement was in response to the WHO's announcement that Rabies is one of the largely neglected diseases in today's world.
During the inauguration of the World Rabies Day events, held at the Ministry Headquarters, Memish underscored the need to keep raising health awareness among workers in the health sector, as well as citizens, especially with regard to the rapid diagnosis of the disease and immunization against it.
He also stressed the necessity of intensifying coordination and cooperation between the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Municipal and Rural Affairs, as well as the Saudi Wildlife Commission, through joint committees encompassing representatives of these authorities, with a view to enhance the epidemiological investigation of the disease in animals and human beings, in addition to improving laboratory capacity, and maintain a sustainable first-class health condition, with respect to combating the disease and endeavoring to attain the moment when the Kingdom becomes entirely devoid of it.
The opening ceremony of the World Rabies Day was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Saudi Wildlife Commission, Preventive Medicine Departments, as well as the disease coordinators in the Kingdom's various regions and governorates.
The activities of the ceremony included an explanation of the current situation of the disease; globally, regionally, and locally.
Besides, the most impeding challenges were reviewed, as well as a visual presentation on the disease, methods of diagnosis, procedures of infection control, and sampling methods.