Newspointer Sept 30, 2024
By our correspondent in Jos
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), have launched a mass dog vaccination campaign in Plateau State, Nigeria. The campaign aims to control and eradicate rabies, a deadly disease that affects humans and animals.
It was gathered that the launch at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos coincides with World Rabies Day, observed globally on September 28th to raise awareness about rabies prevention and recognise progress in defeating the disease. This year’s theme, “Breaking Rabies Boundaries,” emphasises the importance of expanding efforts to control and eradicate rabies through increased vaccination and public awareness initiatives.
Shase-et Sipat Dawat, Director and Chief Veterinary Officer of Plateau State in his speech underscored the critical importance of rabies prevention in the state, which has one of the highest incidences of rabies cases in both humans and animals. He emphasized that rabies is nearly 100% fatal once clinical symptoms appear, but it is almost entirely preventable through vaccination.
“The mass dog vaccination campaign is a key step towards the global target of eradicating rabies by 2030”.
Dawat expressed appreciation to FAO for its support and collaboration, recognizing the honor of Plateau State being one of the only two states chosen for this year’s campaign.
Stephen Dawoh, representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, reiterated the importance of collaborative action to combat rabies. He stated that rabies does not recognise boundaries and remains a serious public health threat, but with continued efforts like the mass dog vaccination campaign, progress can be made towards a rabies-free Nigeria by 2030.
In her address, L.H. Lombin, Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, emphasised the importance of annual dog vaccinations, noting that the disease can be entirely prevented if dog owners take advantage of the free vaccination campaigns. She stressed that vaccinating dogs stops the infection from spreading to humans and called for concerted efforts to break the barriers hindering rabies prevention.
The event was attended by various stakeholders, including veterinary personnel, animal health technologists, dog owners, and representatives from hunters’ associations. Free anti-rabies vaccines were administered to dogs, marking a significant step in controlling the disease in Plateau State.
