In a proactive step to combat the transmission of rabies in Bali’s capital, Denpasar’s urban agriculture department has called for the formation of Rabies Alert Teams (Tisira) in all villages/sub-districts in the province.
AA Bayu Brahmasta, head of the Denpasar Urban Agriculture Department, emphasized the importance of these teams during a meeting in Denpasar on Tuesday. The teams will focus on educating and informing the community on preventative measures against rabies.
Gung Bayu, as he is commonly known, outlined the team’s responsibilities during the coordination meeting for the expansion program for the establishment of the Rabies Alert Team. The meeting also included the Denpasar City Health Service, Culture Service, Village Community Empowerment Service, Australia Indonesia Health Security Partnership (AIHSP) and representatives of 43 villages/sub-districts in Denpasar City.
The primary focus of the Rabies Alert Team will be on educating the public, covering essential prevention strategies such as vaccinations, neutering and regular health checks of animals by their owners.
“Our goal is to maximize the impact of the Rabies Alert Team in educating the public on reducing the spread of rabies and minimizing animal bite incidents,” Gung Bayu said.
He urged all villages and sub-districts in Denpasar City to actively establish and support these teams, given their crucial role in surveillance, outreach and education at the grassroots level.
As of September 2023, in Denpasar City, the number of animals capable of transmitting rabies was estimated at 82,195, with the rabies vaccination rate exceeding 70 percent. This initiative marks an important step in Denpasar City’s ongoing efforts to combat the spread of rabies and ensure public health safety.
