To prevent zoonotic diseases in Oyo state, the state government has collaborated with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Oyo State Branch, to engage in free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made this known on Thursday in celebration of the 2023 World Rabies Day at the State Secretariat, Agodi, in Ibadan.
Barrister Olasunkanmi said it is important humans are protected from diseases that are transmissible from animals because about 70 per cent of infectious diseases affecting humans are of animal origin.
“People keep dogs as pets, and with the level of closeness they can have with their dogs, they need to be protected from contracting zoonotic diseases which have claimed many lives,” he said.
He stressed that rabies is one of the diseases that are dangerous to humans, hence the need for the Government to collaborate with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association to administer free anti-rabies vaccine to dogs across the state to prevent and put the minimal spread of rabies disease.
“We have embarked on the aggressive campaign on how to prevent Anthrax, which has yielded great results and as part of the present government in the state, under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde, we are putting effort into preventing diseases that can be transmitted to humans [zoonotic].
” We are collaborating with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association in the state to administer free anti-rabies vaccine to dogs across the state in celebrating the World Rabies Day,” he said
He, however, hinted that Oyo State would be ready to partner with any association or group to ensure that the people of the state are healthy.
In his address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association Oyo state branch, Dr Moses Arokoyo, commended the Oyo State Government for being proactive in fighting against zoonotic diseases, adding that free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs was part of efforts to celebrate this year’s World Rabies Day.
He noted that Rabies disease is a deadly disease that humans can contract from infected animals, especially through dog bites. Anti-rabies vaccination of dogs has been shown to be very effective in preventing the spread of Rabies disease to humans.
“To celebrate this year’s World Rabies Day, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Oyo State Branch considered it very important to collaborate with Oyo State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to engage in free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs at Ona-Ara Local Government Area and other approved centres in the state,” he explained.
World Rabies Day is a day set aside globally to increase awareness about rabies disease and its prevention to ensure that people take appropriate actions to prevent the spread of the disease and save many lives.
The event includes a rabies disease prevention awareness road walk from the University of Ibadan to the State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and will end with the free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs scheduled for Saturday, 30th of September this year.
Dr Arokoyo, therefore, enjoined every resident to utilise the avenue to vaccinate their dogs from 3 months old, adding that anti-rabies vaccination is to be administered to dogs once every year by a registered veterinary doctor.
The World Rabies Day is usually celebrated on September 28 every year throughout the globe. This year’s theme is “All for 1. One Health for All”.
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