World Rabies Day: Sokoto State reiterates commitment to end the disease by 2030

The Sokoto State Government says it will continue to champion efforts geared towards total elimination of Rabies Disease by the year 2030.

The State Commissioner, Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Professor Abdulkadir Junaid,  stated this at the official flagging off ceremony to mark the annual World Rabies Day and free vaccination campaign against the disease.

The event was organised by the Ministry in collaboration with Association of Sokoto State Veterinary Doctors.

Professor Junaid said; ”this year’s celebration focuses on the facts about rabies as well as dispelling any misconceptions about the disease.”

Professor Junaid explained that the World Rabies Day was ”a global day of action that is being promoted by the Global Alliance for Rabies control to raise awareness about the consequences of human and animal rabies and to also seeks ways to prevent the disease.”

”Rabies, which is one of the oldest disease known to man is a deadly infection that can affect a wide range of Animals including humans.

“And the major concern about the disease is that, once clinical manifestations begins to appear death is always inevitable as not up to 10 people have recovered from the disease globally.

“But people should understand that while rabies is deadly, it’s also 100% preventable once we have the necessary information about the preventive measures at our disposal,” Professor Junaid said.

Commendation
He commended the Association for organising the event and joining other forces across the World to enlighten the general public on the dangers of the disease and importance of the vaccination.

The Commissioner urged owners of the Animals to always present their dogs for routine vaccination especially at this time that the vaccine is free and to also report cases of bites to the nearest veterinary facility.

Professor Abdulkadir Junaid was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Usman Abdullahi.

The Commissioner for Health in Sokoto State, Dr Ali Inname, said his Ministry would continue to collaborate with that of Animal Health as well as Environment to ensure proper surveillance and enlightenment on the disease across the state.

Dr Inname said that his Ministry would also strengthen the collaboration through coming up with a framework which would help to implement issues related to Zoonotic diseases which rabies is one of them and other important diseases of veterinary public health importance as well as antibiotic resistance.

He described the celebration as timely considering the situation of the disease globally.

Dr Inname urged the Ministry for Animal Health and Fisheries Development to seek for new laws to be enacted at the State Assemble which would help to reposition the sector and compete globally.

The Head, Inspectorate of Veterinary Clinics and Disease Surveillance Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Dr Faruk Bande, presented a paper titled ” Rabies: Why prevention is always better than cure.”

According to him, rabies is estimated to cause 59,000 human deaths annually in over 150 countries with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia.

Dr Bande stated that 99% of rabies cases were dog-mediated and the burden of disease is proportionally borne by rural poor population, with approximately half of cases attributable to children under 15.

According to him, ”WHO estimated that more than 29 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination.”

“This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies death annually.

“The Organisation puts the global economic burden of dog-mediated rabies at an estimated of US $8.6 billion per year,” he said.

Mass Vaccination
Dr Bande explained that to eliminate the disease ”there is need to embark on mass vaccination of at least 70% of dogs, public enlightenment campaign across the country.”

He also said government should enact laws and policies at various tiers and encourage responsible dog ownership to get their pets vaccinated as well as promote reduction of the free-roaming dog population.

The highlight of the event was Presentation of Awards to Commissioners of Health, Dr Ali Inname, and that of Animal Health and Fisheries Development, Professor Abdulkadir Junaid as well as flagging of mass vaccination for dogs.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere