The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to vaccinate their dogs in order to protect both the animals and people around them from the threat of rabies.
Nigeria’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Ositi Bakuru, made the announcement on Saturday during an awareness walk in Abuja to commemorate World Rabies Day 2024.
The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with Breakthrough Action Nigeria and other partners under the theme “Breaking Rabies Boundaries.”
Bakuru, represented by the Director of Veterinary Public Health, Samuel Anzaku, emphasized the need for public awareness regarding the dangers of rabies, urging people to take preventative measures and report any cases to appropriate veterinary authorities.
“Rabies is a serious global and national issue, and it’s vital for everyone to understand the risk and how to prevent it,” he said.
As part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease, Bakuru announced the flag-off of a nationwide mass vaccination campaign targeting dogs, which will be conducted across the country.
This campaign is aligned with the global goal of eliminating rabies as a public health threat by 2030.nThe mass vaccination effort is also aimed at reducing the incidence of rabies in Nigeria, where human deaths have been reported in states such as Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, and Cross River.
The Chief Veterinary Officer noted that over the past two years, the government has collaborated with international partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), and Breakthrough Action Nigeria, to develop a national strategic plan to eliminate rabies.
The plan includes steps such as mass vaccination of dogs and cats and the promotion of responsible pet ownership.
“Starting on September 28th, the nationwide dog vaccination campaign will begin, and additional activities will be organized to raise further awareness,” said Bakuru.
He added that dog owners are required by law to register their dogs, vaccinate them, and carry vaccination cardsvfor proper management in case of rabies exposure.
Bakuru also warned of the severe consequences of rabies once symptoms appear in humans, noting that **death is almost inevitable in such cases. This underscores the urgency of vaccination and preventive measures.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), represented by Nasir Ahmed, stated that approximately 10,000 people are infected with rabies annually in Nigeria, highlighting the scale of the problem. He stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration to eliminate the disease by 2030.
“Collaboration across all sectors is essential to eliminate rabies by 2030,” said Idris, reiterating the commitment of both the federal government and international organizations to fight the disease.
Dorcas Mernyi, the focal point for rabies at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, noted that human rabies vaccines, procured by the ministry, are distributed free of charge to affected states.
However, she highlighted that many rural residents are unaware of the availability of these vaccines due to high costs and the lack of local production.
Mernyi also mentioned that the ministry, in partnership with Breakthrough Action Nigeria, has launched a nationwide awareness campaign, using jingles in multiple languages to educate the public on rabies prevention and treatment.
Usman Abdulrazak of the Federal Ministry of Environment stressed the importance of proper waste disposal in controlling the stray dog population, which contributes to the spread of rabies. “Proper waste management plays a key role in reducing the number of stray dogs, thereby helping to control the spread of rabies,” he noted.
As the federal government embarks on this vaccination campaign, it encourages all Nigerians to take responsibility for their pets’ health and ensure that rabies is eradicated from the country by 2030.
