Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol Performing Royal Duties with HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s Veterinary Volunteer Unit in Chaiyaphum, Lop Buri, and Phetchabun Provinces

          While performing the royal duties with HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s Veterinary Volunteer Unit, Her Royal Highness brought a team of knowledgeable and experienced veterinarians equipped with modern tools and devices from the central administration. They collaborated with veterinarians of Provincial Livestock Offices and other relevant local agencies to assist, examine and treat both people’s pets and stray animals, ensuring their safety from serious diseases and to sustainably make Thailand a rabies-free country. To this end, the promotion of comprehensive services was emphasized, comprising sterilization, rabies vaccination, and training and campaigns to raise awareness and understanding on surveillance and prevention of rabies, as well as conscientious animal care and social responsibility. Creative and easy-to-understand media appropriate for all target groups especially children and young people were used. For example, the cartoon book “ZERO RABIES Mission to Defeat Rabies” combines modern science and technology with imagination to impart knowledge on proper conduct and awareness of the seriousness of rabies. This approach would help instill in children and young people a good learning experience, making them a significant force in reducing the problems of stray dogs and rabies in the country in the future.
          In summary, during the activities between January 27-30, 2024, 459 dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies, and 290 were sterilized. These activities constitute another step forward in driving the major strategy of rabies surveillance, prevention, and control in local areas under HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s project on “Disease-free Animals, Safe Humans from Rabies”, aiming to move rapidly towards rabies-free Thailand.