The Federal Government is embarking on a mass vaccination programme of all animals and humans at high risk, as part of efforts to make Nigeria a Rabies free nation in seven years.
The coordinating minister of state for health and social welfare, Professor Mohammad Ali Pate, who announced this at a joint ministerial briefing, to commemorate the 2023 World Rabies Day In Abuja, encouraged all stakeholders to join hands in the fight to control and eliminate rabies in Nigeria.
Rabies is a deadly disease, zoonotic in nature, affecting all warm-blooded animals and man, and is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.
In Nigeria, dogs are responsible for approximately 99% of these exposures, with devastating outcomes in humans and livestock.
The good news is, the disease is 100% vaccine-preventable. So as Nigeria prepares to join the rest of the world in the celebration of World Rabbis Day 2023, the ministers of Health, Agriculture and Environment are leading the fight against Rabies in Nigeria using one health approach.
MUST READ: FG Flags Off Free Vaccination Against Anthrax To Ensure Safety Of Livestock And Human
According to them, The Federal Government, in its continued effort to eliminate rabies has continued to procure Anti Rabies Vaccines for animal vaccination as well as doses of Human pre- and post-exposure vaccines for vaccination of humans at high risk of rabies such as animal health workers/ hunters and those exposed to rabies through the bite of infected animals.
The theme for this year’s World Rabies Day is “All for 1-One Health for All”. This theme focuses on the need for collaboration and the importance of equality as well as strengthening overall health systems by ensuring that One Health is adopted by all stakeholders.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
