Health Minister Veena George announced that government and aided schools will host awareness classes led by doctors or health workers from nearby hospitals, health centres, and urban health units.
Published Jun 29, 2025 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 29, 2025 | 11:00 AM
Kerala reports over 1.3 lakh dog bite cases in four months; rabies deaths raise alarm(Wikimedia Commons)
In a major awareness drive against rabies, the Kerala Health Department, in collaboration with the Education Department, will conduct special sessions in school assemblies across the state on Monday, 30 June.
Health Minister Veena George announced that government and aided schools will host awareness classes led by doctors or health workers from nearby hospitals, health centres, and urban health units.
The initiative aims to educate school children about the dangers of rabies, the importance of first aid, and the need for timely vaccination in case of animal bites or scratches.
With children considered a high-risk group for such incidents, the programme will focus on teaching them how to stay safe while interacting with animals and what steps to take in emergencies.
District-level awareness programmes will also be held at major schools in the presence of district collectors, public representatives, and senior officials from the health and education sectors.
Additionally, similar awareness sessions will be conducted for teachers and parents in July through Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings.
Pamphlets, posters, and videos carrying safety guidelines will be distributed to reinforce the message at home. The minister expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen community-level disease prevention efforts.
In 2025 (till 25 June), the state reported 16 rabies deaths. In June alone, one confirmed death and one suspected death due to rabies were reported.
