Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah has urged dog owners in Enugu State to vaccinate their dogs against rabies as the government plans to eliminate continued transmission of the disease in the state.
Mbah said this while flagging off the Zero Rabies in Enugu Campaign Initiative at the State Veterinary Clinic in Enugu.
The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Dr Patrick Ubru, said that rabies remained one of the most preventable yet devastating diseases affecting human and animal health.
He noted that the state government in collaboration with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), had taken a significant step towards ensuring the safety, health and well-being of the people and animals.
Mbah, who assured that the government would provide the necessary resources to drive the campaign, appealed to individuals, families and communities to play their part by ensuring their dogs are vaccinated.
The governor called on community and religious leaders as well as organisations and health educators to help spread awareness about the dangers of rabies in order to stop its spread in the state.
According to him, the “Zero Rabies Campaign in Enugu State is not just an initiative; but a call to action for every stakeholder in our state and society.
“By launching this campaign, the Enugu State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation in collaboration with NVMA is taking a significant step towards ensuring the safety, health and well-being of our people and animals.
“This campaign aligns with the global target of eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
“I am particularly encouraged by the collaborative approach adopted for this initiative.
“The involvement of government agencies, veterinary professionals, community leaders and international partners underscores the importance of a united front in tackling public health challenges,” Mbah said.
Corroborating, the State Chairman of NVMA, Dr Chidiebere Iloh, said the Zero Rabies Campaign aligns with the global strategy to achieve zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030; “a vision that requires the synergy of government, professionals and communities.”
Iloh noted that rabies remained a global public health concern, with over 99 per cent of human rabies deaths resulting from dog bites.
The chairman added that most of rabies-related deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
Iloh revealed that veterinarians in the state are prepared to provide technical expertise in mass dog vaccination both with Enugu metropolis and even the rural communities within Enugu State.
“The collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation and the NVMA reflects a unified commitment to protecting human and animal health in our state.
“By adopting the One Health Approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health efforts, we are laying the groundwork for sustainable rabies prevention and control in the state.
“The NVMA is proud to play a leading role in this initiative.
“However, the success of this campaign requires more than technical expertise; it demands the active involvement of community leaders, pet owners (especially dog owners) and all citizens of the state,” Iloh said.
