To commemorate the 2021 annual Anti-Rabies Awareness and Immunization Day, the Delta State Government today flagged-off a 12-week vaccination of all cats and dogs in the state, free-of-charge.
Speaking during the flag off of the 2021 annual anti- rabies awareness and immunization at the government veterinary clinic in Asaba, the Commissioner of Agricultural and Natural Resources who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Ben Agamah said the state government was bent on ensuring that pets such as dogs, cat and other wild animal were free from the highly contagious and zoonotic disease.
Egbedi said that since the assumption of the state governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa into office in 2015, the advocacy had remained free of charge, adding that the attention of the public have been drawn to the public health risk of rabies and the need for hygienic and decent accommodation as well as humane treatment of pets as measures of preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases such as hydatidosis, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis and others in pets.
While sensitizing the general public on the dangers of the disease, he said it was right for them to take advantage of the free vaccination so as not to be infected.
The Commissioner advised Deltans to take seriously cases of Dog bite and report immediately to the nearest veterinary clinic or medical centre for proper treatment and investigation.
According to him, the flag off and sensitization exercise was being replicated in the 25 local Government Areas across the state.
In his words the Director, Veterinary Services, Dr Charles Diai said routine annual prophylactic vaccination of pet was the best remedy to prevent rabies in dogs and pet.
Diai said since there was no cure for rabies once the symptoms had manifested and that it was ideal for pet owners to ensure that their pets were immunized against rabies annually.
According to the Director, if the animals were not well catered for health wise, constitute a source of human ill health, adding that the neglect of the treatment of these diseases eventually leads to transmission to human.
