GMC Srinagar commemorates World Rabies Day with awareness initiatives

Srinagar, Sept 30: The Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar marked World Rabies Day with a series of events aimed at raising awareness about rabies prevention. The day, observed annually on the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur, the discoverer of the anti-rabies vaccine, highlights the global challenge of rabies, which claims over 55,000 lives each year, with India bearing the largest share of the burden.
This year’s theme, “Breaking Rabies Boundaries,” emphasized the need to go beyond traditional methods in eliminating human rabies, particularly dog-transmitted cases. The Department of Community Medicine, GMC Srinagar, organized several impactful programs, including a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session and training for medical and paramedical staff, as well as a poster competition.
The main event took place at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Nishat, the community health training center for the college, and was inaugurated by Prof. Iffat Hassan, Principal and Dean of GMC Srinagar. She was joined by Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan, Head of Community Medicine, along with other faculty members and healthcare officials.
Healthcare workers participated in a comprehensive training session focusing on the management of animal bites and rabies prevention. Technical presentations were delivered by Dr. Kouser Sideeq and Dr. Sameena Yousuf Dar, both assistant professors in the Community Medicine department, who organized the day’s events. Insha Rehman, a pharmacist at the Anti-Rabies Clinic, UPHC SMHS Srinagar, conducted practical demonstrations on rabies management.
A simultaneous poster competition at the Anti-Rabies Clinic, UPHC SMHS Hospital, saw creative submissions that raised awareness on the subject. The competition was judged by Prof. M. Iqbal Pandit, Dr. Waseem Raja, and Dr. Muzamil Hassan, and certificates of merit were awarded to the top three entries.
The initiative, led by GMC Srinagar, is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen community health strategies and contribute to the global goal of eliminating rabies by 2030, adopting the One Health approach.