(5/20/2012)
While the battle against the current rabies epidemic continues in Bali, the list of fatalities linked to the disease continues to mount.
According to Radar Bali, pledges by the government to continue and intensify the vaccination of dogs are being frustrated by a lack of anti-rabies vaccine (VAR). The purchase of anti-rabies vaccine supplies allocated in government budgets is reportedly not progressing due to administrative problems in the procurement process.
The head of the Livestock, Fisheries and Ocean (Kadisnakkanlut) Department for the Badung regency, Made Badra, has admitted the current shortfall in anti-rabies vaccine.
The 3rd phase of anti-rabies vaccination for area dogs was to start on March 25, 2012 for completion on June 25th – a schedule that is clearly not going to be met.
Because of this failure in the supply chain, only 26,000 of a targeted 40,000 dogs have been vaccinated. The unvaccinated dogs are mostly in the areas of Kuta, North Kuta and South Kuta.
Apparently the resupply of VAR is awaiting the completion of a bidding process, which failed to meet administrative muster the first time the procurement bid was conducted. Adding to the shortage of VAR is the failure of anti-rabies vaccine promised from Jakarta to arrive in Bali.
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[Rabies Toll Climbs]
[New Rabies Death Reported in Bali]
[Dogged Determination to Control Rabies]
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