Chairperson of Indonesian Veterinary Association: Thousands of Animals in Bali Are Infected by Rabies

The Chairperson of Executive Board of Indonesian Veterinary Association (PB PDHI), drh. Wiwiek Bagja, said that rabies patients in Bali have already reached 6,000 people. Tens of thousands animals there are estimated to be infected by rabies. “In Bali, tens of thousands animals have been killed because of rabies. About 6,000 people have already been infected by rabies,” said Wiwiek Bagja briefing  vet candidates, Monday (21/12) at Auditorium of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UGM.
 
Wiwiek regretted that the Governor of Bali has not taken action to handle the rabies infection in cows and pigs in his territory while there are 600 thousands of dogs in Bali have been killed. “They have not done action. The Governor should announce this condition after being lobbied by General Director of Animal Health,” she said.
 
According to Wiwiek, the slow reaction in Bali is because almost all officers of Animal Husbandry Agency in that region are not Vets, so  there  are no research and  firm policy. Moreover, Government rule states that only echelon I officer has the right to determine national veterinary emergency response. “Throughout Bali  90 % Heads of Agencies are not Vets. There are no meetings about rabies eradication, there is only workshop,” she added.
 
In front of hundreds of vet candidates who are inaugurated, Wiwiek advised them to improve their quality so that they can compete with foreign vets. Today, there are vets from Japan and Australia working in our country.
 
The briefing entitled “Toward Professional and Highly Competent Vets” also presented Vice Director of Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Dr. drh. Teuke Sahir. He suggested vets not to worry to work in private companies because it is more promising. Up to now, many of them have failed working there, because they are not patient, not competent and not focused.”