The Kwara State Government has tasked owners of cats and dogs capable of causing rabies to ensure the vaccination of such domestic animals for the safety of the people.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Malam AbdulLateef Alakawa, to commemorate this year’s World Rabies Day.
September 28 of every year has been set aside to raise awareness and advocacy for rabies elimination globally and this is being coordinated by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
According to the statement, rabies is a preventable disease and controlled through vaccination of cats and dogs in our society being the major causes of the disease.
“In a bid to eliminate this disease, the state government under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development embarked on a statewide anti-rabies campaign in July this year.
“The theme for this year’s anti-rabies campaign is ‘One Health, Zero Death’, to highlight the connection of the environment with people and animals,” the statement said.
The statement further enjoined owners of cats and dogs to take the advantage of the ongoing free mass anti-rabies vaccination exercise for their animals at Area Veterinary Offices across the state and the ministry’s headquarters along Old Jebba road, Ilorin, from 9 a.m to 2 p.m every working day.
