Directive No. 92/TTg on Strengthening Measures to Prevent and Control Rabies

DIRECTIVE

ON STRENGTHENING THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF RABIES

Recently, rabies in our country, especially rabies caused by dog bites, has been on the rise, causing significant consequences to human lives and people's property. According to the Ministry of Health's report, the number of people infected with the rabies virus due to dog bites and deaths from it has increased. Each year, the State has had to allocate a considerable amount of funds for the production of rabies vaccines, the construction of vaccination points, but these efforts have not yet met the basic needs due to the rapid increase in the number of people requiring rabies vaccinations over the past few years.

The cause of this situation is that we still lack strict management measures for dog breeding and release; we have not strongly promoted rabies vaccination for dog herds; propaganda and education work among the people about the dangers and harm of rabies has not been sufficiently strong; local authorities at many levels have not fully recognized the importance of rabies prevention and control work, thus not taking active and strong measures; there is a lack of close cooperation between ministries, sectors, and localities.

To strictly implement the Law on Protecting People's Health and the Ordinance on Animal Health, reduce losses to people and assets, achieve the goal of controlling rabies by 2000 and eradicating it in subsequent years, the Prime Minister instructs:

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

- To develop a plan for preventing and controlling rabies in livestock from now until 2000, particularly the vaccination of pet dogs against rabies, to be submitted to the Government in 1996.

- To closely coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to effectively implement this Plan throughout the country.

- To take the lead in developing and submitting to the Government for promulgation a Decree stipulating the management of dog breeding and release, attaching civil liability for compensation to those bitten by dogs, and other necessary measures in the work of preventing and controlling rabies in livestock.

2. The Ministry of Health:

To prioritize the prevention and control of rabies as one of the key tasks to be managed and directed by the Ministry from now until 2000, strengthen and regularly coordinate with related ministries and sectors in the work of preventing and controlling rabies. Develop a plan for producing vaccines and organizing anti-rabies vaccinations for people by 2000, paying particular attention to the following contents:

- To consolidate and upgrade, build a nationwide system for rabies vaccination and monitoring in humans.

- To ensure sufficient quantity and quality of rabies vaccines and antirabies sera for all individuals bitten by suspected rabid dogs, intensify scientific research to serve the work of preventing and controlling rabies.

3. Ministry of Finance:

To ensure adequate budget allocation and funding for activities in the work of preventing, monitoring, and controlling rabies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, and localities.

4. Radio and television agencies, other mass media, people's organizations, schools shall closely cooperate with the health sector and agriculture sector to strengthen extensive propaganda throughout the country so that all citizens understand the harmful effects of rabies, respond positively and strictly comply with laws, regulations of the State and local authorities in the work of preventing and controlling rabies.

5. Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government shall strictly direct the health sector, the agriculture sector, and other related sectors in their locality, encourage people's organizations to participate actively in implementing the program of prevention, control, and containment of rabies in their locality.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees under the Central Government are responsible for strictly implementing this Directive. The Ministry of Health is responsible for supervising, inspecting, urging, and compiling quarterly reports to the Prime Minister.