Anambra State Government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has flagged off the 2021 Free Anti Rabies vaccination campaign.
The exercise is part of measures geared towards eliminating human death through dog rabies by 2030.
Correspondent, Chibuzor Obidike covered the event which took place at Anambra state Veterinary Service Centre Amawbia and reports that
rabies is highly fatal viral disease affecting all warm-blooded animals that is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal or man.
The infection has a ninety-nine percent fatality rate if efficient post exposure treatment is not instituted early.
The free vaccination campaign which is a collaboration between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has the support of World Organization on Animal Health and World Health Organization.
The organization recommends that at least seventy percent of dogs should be vaccinated annually for three consecutive years to be able to break the transmission cycle of rabies and consequently eliminate the disease.
In his welcome speech, the Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Nnamdi Onukwuba represented by the Director, Veterinary Services, Dr. Basil Ideh, described rabies as one of the deadliest viral infectious diseases on earth, which is prevalent in Africa and Asia and commended the contribution of the federal government in boosting the already established routine in the state.
Mr Onukwuba while calling on the people of the state to avail themselves the opportunity to vaccinate their dogs and cats at no cost during the five days vaccination campaign period appreciated the massive support by Governor Willie Obiano to veterinary services.
In his keynote address, the Veterinary Officer of the Federation, Dr. Olaniran Alabi represented by a staff in the ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Adole noted that despite the high fatality, the disease is one hundred percent preventable through mass dog vaccination and enlightenment campaign as dogs account for ninety-nine percent of human deaths resulting from rabies.
Some dog owners, including Sir Charles Mbakiwe and Miss Oby Agbata who saw their dogs vaccinated commended both the federal and state governments for their efforts in disease control especially against rabies which had received no attention and asked every dog or cat owner to bring out their dogs for vaccination.
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