Kebbi State Government, Monday, announced free vaccination of dogs against rabies.
This was disclosed during the celebration of the World Rabies Day, with the theme ‘End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate’ at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Birnin Kebbi.
According to the governor, “The focus should be on how to prevent rabies in animals themselves. This will surely help in combating the menace of the disease.”
Bagudu also stressed that “Animals lives matter too and the relationship between the humans and animals matter too.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, the state Commissioner of Animal Health, Husbandry and Fisheries, Alhaji Aminu Garba Dandiga, said Kebbi State Government, through the Ministry, had vaccinated over 17, 200 dogs against rabies disease, out of the 40,000 dogs population in the state.
He said that there were 87 human involvements and 79 persons who received post exposure prophylaxis in 2019.
“Kebbi state has an estimation of over 40,000 dog population, out of which, 43 per cent had been vaccinated and there were 87 human involvements and 79 persons had received post exposure prophylaxis in 2019,” Dandiga said.
“The most dreaded disease is rabies, especially as the state came under high attacks by high incidences of dog bites, some of which cases upon investigation were found to be positive for rabies,” he said.
Dandiga commended the efforts of Gov. Atiku Bagudu, especially the timely intervention and release of funds for rabies and Anthrax control and containment, among others.
In her good will message, the National President of Veterinary Council of Nigeria, AIG, Aishatu Ababakar-Baju, said that thousands of people and animals still died from the rabies around the world daily despite the fact that, the disease is 100 vaccine – preventable.
Highlights of the event was a Paper Presentation by Professor Asabe Dzikwi-Emennaa, University of Jos, conferment of an Award to the Governor for his outstanding contributions to the Veterinary Medical Association of Nigeria and the fight against Rabies, presented by the founder and CEO of War Against Rabies Foundation, Dr. G.S.N. Kia as well as Flagg off of the free vaccination exercise to dogs.
