World Rabies Day Launched

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, has urged civil society groups and non-governmental organisation (NGO) to campaigns on rabies control and its prevention.

Mr. Ahwoi announced that the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) is seeking funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to embark on a five-year anti-rabies campaign programme in response to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation for 70% vaccination coverage of the dog population in order to interrupt the viral circle of rabies infection.

These were contained in address read on his behalf at the launch of the World Rabies Day in Accra yesterday.

The World Rabies Day is observed on the 28th of September every year to raise awareness about the continuing burden of the disease and how it can be prevented.

The theme for this year's celebration is 'Rabies -A Neglected Public Health Menace.'

The Minister said the VSD, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will carry out a census of dogs and cats in order to be able to carry out a successful vaccination of pets against rabies.

Furthermore, he said, the VSD, in collaboration with the School of Public Health of the University of Ghana, will carry out a study on the socio-economic impact of rabies on society and its surveillance as a measure that will promote the effective control of the disease.

As part of activities to commemorate the day, the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) has outlined a one-week programme which include public education on radio and television, free vaccination at the Ako-Adjei Park at Labone in Accra and a public lecture on the theme, to raise awareness on rabies prevention and control.

In an address to welcome the audience at the launch, the President of the GVMA, Dr. Kwasi Bowi Darkwa noted that even though the vaccine for the effective control of rabies is available, financial resources, commitment and motivation to lessen disease burden in humans and animals are lacking.

Dr. Darkwa said the way forward in the control of rabies is a free and sustained national anti-rabies vaccination campaign for five-years, education on responsible pet ownership which involves proper feeding and prompt vaccination, impounding and destruction of stray animals, the elimination of unwanted pups by spraying or neutering of pets and government intervention through the provision of funds for annual rabies vaccination.