And the winner of the RITA support award is…

In February this year, GARC announced a financial support award for a student from Africa or Asia to attend the Rabies in the Americas (RITA) conference in Toronto next month, courtesy of Battelle.

There were many outstanding applications but there could only be one winner. We are delighted to announce that Jessy Joseph, a post-graduate medical student from New Delhi, India, was selected for this award by an external judging panel.

Jessy conducted a study of patients at a Delhi hospital examining the reasons that cause delays in bite wound victims seeking post-exposure prophylaxis.

Next month she will travel, expenses and accommodation paid, to Toronto and present the findings of her study to the conference.

Jessy has been interested in rabies prevention for some time. Below, you can see her talking during a health education session on rabies prevention and control, held on World Rabies Day.

“In India, the practice of applying chilli powder, home made remedies and tantriks are so prevalent after dog bites. The reason remains that [people] are not informed,” says Jessy.

She goes on to say, “Whenever we give a health talk […] it always comes as a surprise how uninformed […] people are and [they are] so eager to know what is right.”

We wish Jessy all the best for her journey to Toronto and in her career.

The RITA conference takes place from 27-31 October in Toronto. You can find out more here.