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Secretary General, APCRI

Since its establishment in 1998, Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI) has been in the fore front in the war against rabies in India. The association stood strong in its advocacy for cost effective PEP for bite victims, improving coverage of vaccines, promoting proper wound management and reducing the incidence of rabies in the country. Owing to the sustained efforts of this organization, cost effective Intra Dermal Route of Vaccine administration (IDRV) has been implemented by many states in India. For example, in Kerala, we were able to convince the State Government to make it available free of cost to all bite victims in the state, without any additional financial commitment to the state.

As Secretary General of APCRI it is my immense pleasure to welcome everyone to the 12th National Conference of APCRI to be held at Silver Oak Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on 3rd and 4th of July 2010. The theme for this year is: ‘Joining Hands for a Rabies Free India by 2020’.

I hope that the conference will serve as a platform, where experts from various parts of the country and various disciplines will share their experience and initiate an effective coordinated joint action for control of rabies in India.

For complete details please visit the Conference Website.

Dr. Thomas Mathew Secretary General APCRI

“Awareness is the best defense against Rabies” was the slogan raised in the rally flagged off by Sri. C. Jayan Babu, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram from Raktha Sakshi Mandapam to Press Club as part of the World Rabies Day Observance on September 28, 2009. The rally was lead by Dr. Thomas Mathew, Secretary General, APCRI and Nodal Officer, State Disease Control and Monitoring Cell, along with representatives from health services and other voluntary organizations working in the field of rabies control. The band service of the children from Sree Chithra Poor Home made the rally lively and rhythmic. The rally was followed by the inauguration of The World Rabies Day State level by Sri. C. Divakaran, Honorable Minister for Husbandry, Food and Civil Supplies, Kerala. Dr. R. Vijayakumar, Director of Animal Husbandry Kerala, welcomed the gathering and Dr. A. P. S Nair, president, IVA; delivered the key note address. Sri. S. B. Jayaprasad, Chairman, Kerala State Pollution Control Board; Sri. A. Vikraman Nair, Additional Secretary, Animal Husbandry; Dr. Theodore John, President, KVSSA; Dr. Sukumara Pillai, president, AHOAK; Sri. G. Prakasam, Special Officer to MD, KMSCL and Dr. N. Ajayan, DAHO; felicitated in the inaugural ceremony. This was followed by the workshop on Rabies Control, inaugurated by Sri. S. M. Vijayanand IAS, Principal Secretary, LSGD and chaired by Dr. V. Ramkumar, Former Secretary, VCI; Dr. R. Vijayakumar, Director, Animal Husbandry Dept. and Dr. N. N. Sasi, Registrar, Kerala State Veterinary Council.

Dr Thomas Mathew Nodal Officer IDRV Kerala

The 11^th National Conference of the Association for Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI) was held on 4^th and 5^th July, 2009 at Taj Residency, Thiruvananthapuram, focusing on the implementation of IDRV in the country. The theme of the conference, ‘Intra Dermal Rabies Vaccination – The Challenges Ahead’ is a significant contribution towards achieving the goal of a Rabies Free Kerala by 2015 and India by 2020. The Honourable Health Minister of the State, Smt. P. K. Sreemathi Teacher inaugurated the conference by lighting the lamp. The honourable minister delivered an encouraging and supportive inaugural speech. Dr.Usha Titus, Secretary Health and Medical Education delivered the keynote address. Dr. Dinesh Arora IAS, SMD, NRHM & MD KMSCL and Dr. Vishwas Mehta, Secretary H&FW were the chief guests of the conference. Full report and photos are available on the APCRI Website.