Boehringer Ingelheim’s Angels Initiative and STOP Rabies Campaign brought free rabies vaccination and stroke screening in Sarawak

Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia organised the Angels Initiative and STOP Rabies campaign on 19 August 2023 at SJK(C) Chung Hua Serian. Offering free animal rabies vaccination for pets and health screening for humans, the community event integrated animal and human health services based on the philosophy that the health of animals and humans is interconnected.

Usually transmitted through dog bites, rabies in humans is almost always fatal in Malaysia[2] when it is 100% preventable with vaccination. At the same time, stroke is the third leading cause of death but patients have a high chance of full recovery if they receive treatment in the first hour.

“Continuing our Sustainable Development – For Generations (SD4G) initiative with this roadshow, we are addressing two preventable causes of death under one roof. This exemplifies our commitment to creating a healthier future for humans and animals,” said Dr Kam Kok Yen, Head of Animal Health of Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.

The importance of rabies vaccination is particularly salient today

Sarawak, being a rabies-endemic area, requires continuous efforts in the ongoing fight against rabies, especially after the reinstatement of the rabies outbreak status as ‘Disaster’ in May. “High number of rabid dog bites heightens the urgency to combat rabies together with the community. With low awareness among pet owners, the importance of rabies vaccination becomes even more crucial. Rabies vaccination is made mandatory under section 40, Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999,” said Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Director of the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS).Since the onset of the rabies outbreak that started in Serian in 2017, 59 lives have been lost among the 66 reported human cases. Four of the 11 human rabies cases reported in Sarawak this year were from Serian, where nine people have died from the disease. Eight of these cases have a history of the victims being bitten by dogs and two were being bitten or scratched by cats[6]. Limited access to veterinary services in Serian is a major obstacle and requires collective action from all sectors.

Dr Mohd Khairunnaim Che Khalid, Head of the Communicable Disease Unit, Serian Division Health Office added that the responsibility of rabies eradication extends beyond the government. “Pet owners in Serian are urged to prioritise vaccinating their pets. By doing so, we can prevent the spread of rabies within the larger community and protect our pets, our families, neighbours, and neighbourhood animals from rabies.”

Citing the close interaction between humans and pets, Professor Dr Latiffah Hassan, Coordinator of Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN) emphasised, “I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to vaccinate your pets, especially in areas where rabies occurs regularly. Rabies can unknowingly enter homes through infected free-roaming pets and strays under your care. Interacting with pets often involves close contact with saliva through bites or scratches, which can easily transmit the disease to humans. Moreover, infected animals easily infect other animals, including wild animals. This is why rabies is also an animal health, welfare, and conservation issue, so do your part and vaccinate your pets.”

This life-saving vaccination administered anti-rabies vaccines to around 250 pet dogs and cats. In the fight against rabies in Sarawak, the target is for no one to die from rabies by 2025 – a shared goal with DVSS.

Helping families to act FAST against stroke

Concurrently, over 50 individuals received free blood pressure tests, blood glucose tests, as well as stroke and atrial fibrillation risk assessments from the Sarawak General Hospital.

Under its global Angels Initiative to improve stroke care in humans, Boehringer Ingelheim also introduced the FAST Heroes programme. Targeted at families, the programme equips children with the knowledge to recognise key stroke symptoms and respond in an emergency.

While sharing the risk factors of stroke, Dr Law Wan Chung, Consultant Neurologist at Sarawak General Hospital said, “As stroke is increasingly common before age 45, learning how to recognise the symptoms including facial droop, arm weakness, as well as speech difficulty, and act fast by dialling 999 can really help families save lives at home.”

The stroke prevention roadshow will continue across Malaysia until November, culminating with the commemoration of World Stroke Day.

Boehringer Ingelheim believes cross-collaboration across sectors is the key to a sustainable long-term plan

The roadshow was an important opportunity for Boehringer Ingelheim to continue their work in Sarawak and help the community protect themselves and their loved ones in the fight against rabies and stroke.

“We would like to thank our partners from government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare institutions and animal shelters for their support,” said Dr Kam. “At Boehringer Ingelheim, we believe we can bring about collective change by pooling the expertise and resources of different sectors like what we have done today. Together, we make faster progress in building better health.”

In Kota Samarahan, over 350 students also learned how to protect themselves and their families from these diseases. The workshop on 18 August 2023 included demonstrations on how to respond when a dog approaches, first aid for dog bites, and the FAST Heroes program, which teaches students to recognise and respond to a stroke emergency at home.

Dr Kam added, “We plan to expand our SD4G initiatives in Sarawak and across Malaysia in the coming years to protect the lives, and ultimately elevate health outcomes of humans and animals alike.”

SD4G is driven by Boehringer Ingelheim’s ambition to improve human and animal health, now and in the future. It is defined by three pillars: ‘More Health’, ‘More Green’ and ‘More Potential’. The Angels Initiative and STOP Rabies campaign contributes to the ‘More Health’ pillar of SD4G by addressing unmet needs in non-communicable diseases and combating infectious diseases.

Official partners of the campaign are the Ministry of Health Malaysia, Samarahan District Education Office, Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, Kota Samarahan Municipal Council, Serian District Council, Sarawak General Hospital, Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Chevron, Southeast Asia One Health University Network, Malaysia One Health University Network, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, and Rhone Ma.