Panaji: For many children, a puppet show means laughter, colourful characters and a welcome break from the classroom monotony. In Goa, these cheerful puppets are delivering a message that could one day save their lives especially since dog bites and rabies continue to pose a risk among children.Turning entertainment into a powerful tool for prevention through storytelling, music, humour and relatable characters, Mission Rabies is using puppet theatre to teach children how to stay safe around dogs, what to do if bitten, and why vaccinating dogs is critical to eliminating rabies.Developed by Murugan Appupillai, director for education, Mission Rabies, and his team, the programme draws inspiration from successful puppet-based educational models in the United Kingdom, Rajasthan and Hyderabad.“Puppet shows serve as an effective bridge between public health science and community understanding. When used consistently, they not only reduce dog bite risk through safer human behaviour but also strengthen community participation in rabies prevention programmes. Their ability to educate, engage, and emotionally connect makes them a vital tool in achieving sustainable rabies control and safer human-dog coexistence,” he said.According to Mission Rabies, children remain one of the highest-risk groups for dog bites because of their natural curiosity and limited understanding of animal behaviour. Yet many communities continue to lack awareness about safe interactions with dogs or the urgent steps that must follow a bite.Unlike conventional classroom lectures, puppet shows engage children emotionally. Parents, teachers and civic bodies are often drawn to the performances, creating opportunities for families and communities to discuss rabies prevention together.“The edutainment format ensures strong audience engagement and message retention, especially among children,” he said.Mission Rabies presently conducts puppet shows for Rabies awareness in 13 states across 36 cities and districts with the help of 50 education officers.
