The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Ogun State branch, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State commemorated the 2024 World Rabies Day with a Symposium tagged:’Ogun World Rabies Day 2024 Symposium’ last Saturday, at the State Veterinary Hospital Complex, Ita Eko, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
It was a well-attended programme by the general public and different professional groups including veterinarians, environmental health officers from the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, executives and members of the Hunters’ Association, as well as school children and teachers from different public and private secondary schools in Ogun State.
Also, in attendance were members of the association of Veterinary Medical Students from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, dog breeders, and pet owners.
Among attendees from outside the state was Dr. Ibikunle Akanbi, an Assistant Chief Veterinary Medical Officer in Oyo State.
In her speech, the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Taiwo Jolaosho, represented by Dr. Bola Apanisile highlighted the various achievements of the state government in the prevention of zoonotic diseases and greatly improving the public health of the good citizens of the state.
The chairman of the NVMA, Ogun State branch,Dr. Olalekan Odunsi, in his welcome address accentuated the relevance of the World Rabies Day and the zoonotic importance of rabies.
A top official in the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ayopo Aderounmu also made known to the audience the efforts of the Ogun State Government in implementing rabies elimination strategies.
The keynote speaker at the event, Dr. Ifeoluwapo Omolola Akanbi, an astute veterinarian and Head of Department of Animal Health Technology at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan stressed the need to vaccinate dogs, cats and other pets against rabies.
In addition, she called the attention of the audience and stakeholders to the potential risks of rabies exposure among residents and children in particular, given the presence of many free-roaming dogs, and bat roosting sites in close proximity to some residential areas and schools in Abeokuta.
Dr Akanbi, a rabies educator certified by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and a Silver Dog Health Champion recognised by the “Communities Against Rabies Initiative”, emphasised the importance of educating the public on rabies prevention and vaccination of wildlife, as it obtains in many developed countries.
From her wealth of experience in rabies research and community engagement, Dr Akanbi, shared findings of her research on rabies in Ogun State and also played a video of the true life story of one of the human rabies deaths she witnessed in the state to underscore the reality of dog-mediated human rabies.
The rabies boundaries highlighted during her lecture were cultural barriers, religious barriers, limited access to rabies biologics, and a host of others.
The event ended with the quiz competition among invited school children anchored by Dr. Aderonke Alamu.
Abeokuta Girls Grammar school, Ijemo Titun High School, and Baptist GIrls’ College emerged first, second, and third, respectively. Students from African Church Grammar School and Taìdob College Abeokuta also participated in the competition.
READ ALSO: Independence Day: IGP Egbetokun orders water-tight security nationwide
and then