Rabies: NVMA Urges Mass Vaccination In Nigeria

Veterinary doctors, affiliated with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), are urging stakeholders both at the national and state levels to collaborate with the organization in its campaign on mass vaccination against rabies to eliminate the virus in the country.

The National President of the NVMA, Dr. Olutoyin Adetuberu, gave the charge at the 2023 World Rabies Day tagged, “All For 1, One Health For All” in Lafia the state capital.

The association described rabies as a killer and infectious virus that is usually spread through animals, especially domestic animals.

She explained that in a bid to tackle the virus, the association had embarked on awareness campaigns across states of the country on the menace of the disease while expressing confidence that efforts by the association will in no small measure, educate Nigerians about the killer disease.

She added that the association had also stepped up efforts at eradicating the virus by the year 2030, in line with the commitment of the World Health Organisation.

Dr. Adetuberu, further said that domestic dogs were responsible for 99 per cent of rabies virus transmission to humans, while cats, bats and some other canines, which are also carriers of the virus, accounted for one per cent.

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“I want to urge all residents of Nasarawa State and Nigerians at large always to take good care of their pets, especially dogs so that rabies will soon be completely eliminated in the country,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry Of Agriculture and Water Resources, Isa Mohammed-Eya, assured of the state government’s commitment to continue to give the needed support to veterinary doctors and all health workers to eliminate rabies across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

“I want to see that outside what we are celebrating today, we are challenged to address the issue of rabies. As a government, we are more concerned about the action points.

“We will be willing to give all the necessary support to our healthcare providers to eliminate the deadly virus in any part of the state,” he said.

Dr. Abdullahi Musa, an NVMA State Chairman, thanked the dignitaries who attended the occasion despite their tight schedules and expressed his gratitude towards the Nasarawa State government and stakeholders of the health sector for their continuous support towards ensuring that animals in the state are given optimum care and attention.