On 27th September 2014, about 700 participants gathered in Hoa Binh to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on humans and animals. The participants included primary school students, medical students, representatives from women’s union and youth union, leaders and officials from human and animal health sectors in Hoa Binh province and 27 other provinces at higher risk for rabies, and representatives from the national government and international organizations.
At the event, officials from Hoa Binh province, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development described the current rabies situation in Viet Nam and provided information and advice on how to prevent rabies and how individuals and organizations can help eliminate the disease.
On behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization in Viet Nam, Dr. Jung-Ha Bae, FAO Representative in Viet Nam, discussed international support on rabies prevention and control.
The speeches were followed by a quiz competition for the students to test their knowledge about rabies prevention. The event concluded by distribution of rabies awareness raising materials to the participants and expression of commitment by the leadership to continued efforts on rabies control and prevention through inter-sectoral collaboration as they signed a single banner. The event was followed by a parade on the main street in Hoa Binh city.