The Federal Government on Wednesday reaffirmed its promise to ensure the eradication of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.
Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, stated this at the inauguration of the nationwide free anti-rabies vaccination exercise in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The exercise tagged: “Nationwide Free Vaccination against Dog-mediated Human Rabies,” was part of activities to mark 2022 World Rabies Day, 28 September 2022.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is “One Health, Zero Death”.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal and is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
In Nigeria and many other countries, dogs still carry rabies, and most rabies deaths in people around the world are caused by dog bites.
The minister said rabies was rampant in Nigeria and many other African countries, adding that the disease killed many people annually, especially those living in rural settlements.
“Rabies remains a global threat as it is responsible for the death of approximately 59,000 people in the world annually,” he said.
According to him, the Federal Government is working with critical stakeholders to eliminate the disease by 2030.
Dr. Maimuna Habib, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, in her remarks, said the choice of Gombe for the launch of the vaccination exercise was due to an increase in reported cases of rabies in dogs and humans in the state.
She mentioned that the exercise was also to create awareness of the dangers and the impact of the disease on public health as well as prevention and control measures.
The chief veterinary officer said the Federal Government had developed a National Strategic Plan for the control of rabies in the country.
According to Habib, the document will guide the implementation of the National Programme for the Control of Rabies approved by the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development.
Inuwa Yahaya, Governor of Gombe State, thanked the Federal Government and other partners for their renewed commitment to ensuring the total elimination of the disease.
Yahaya, represented by his deputy, Manassah Jatau, said: “Rabies threatens the existence of wildlife species, causes deaths of human beings and it is a great burden on animal species.
“We are challenged to do all we can to stop its transmission to humans, other animals and even to the dogs”.
Mr. Jamilu Shabewa, Chairman, Dukku Local Government Council, speaking, disclosed that four people had died of the disease as a result of dog bites in the area.
The event was organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and state ministries of agriculture in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Breakthrough Action Nigeria.
