VN September 2023

Vetnuus | September 2023 12 Since I was a student, I remember the comment from vets that all that SAVA does for its members is publish a magazine, but then there were the vets who believed the opposite. I find myself in this second group. I do believe that together and unified we can achieve so much more as veterinarians. Unfortunately, this piece will be read by the converted, those who digest the magazine to find out what SAVA is doing for their members and those who believe the opposing group are missing out. SAVA asked me to represent them on the South African Rabies Advisory Group (RAG) in 2019. RAG is a One-Health group, comprising many role-players: There are veterinarians, animal health technicians, medical doctors, medical virologists, researchers from the public and private sectors and communicable disease coordinators in the group. The RAG has various functions and ongoing projects: • They have compiled the National Rabies Strategy which aims to eliminate human deaths due to rabies in South Africa by 2030. • The group reports back to the Ministerial Technical Committee of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the National Department of Health (NDOH) on the current rabies situation. • RAG supports the control of rabies in South Africa through stakeholder engagement and enabling communication between relevant role-players to work together. • RAG is liaising with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to determine ways in which rabies can be incorporated into the current curriculum, seeing that most deaths due to rabies in humans are affecting children under the age of 15. Unfortunately, the curriculum is not open to amendments at this stage, but the DBE has requested that we approach schools to arrange special assemblies. This is something we as veterinarians can get involved in across South Africa, seeing that education is the foundation of rabies prevention. SAVA members and Rabies Dr Didi Claassen drdidiclaassen@gmail.com