Accra, Sept. 29, GNA – The Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA) has commemorated this year’s World Rabies Day celebration with the call on constituents to get their dogs vaccinated for free.
The event was launched on Monday, in Accra, on the theme “End rabies: collaborate and vaccinate.”
Mr Samuel Nii Adjei Tawiah, the Municipal Chief Executive of KoKMA, said the World Rabies Day Celebration was to commemorate the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine and laid the foundation for rabies prevention.
He said the day was celebrated all over the world, through varied activities, and aimed at eliminating human deaths from dog bites.
Mr Tawiah said the Municipal Assembly in efforts to support the eradication of rabies had provided funds for the vaccination of dogs and cats in the municipality at a subsidized fee.
He, therefore, encouraged residents to take advantage of the opportunity and get their animals vaccinated.
Mr Tawiah also called for post-exposure vaccination to save people exposed to potentially rabies animals.
Dr Boampong Twumasi, the Veterinary Officer KOKMA, said the day was observed to prepare for anti-rabies vaccination for animals, especially dogs and cats, across the world
He said the day was also celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating the horrifying disease, adding that the Assembly would commemorate the day throughout the week.
Dr Twumasi said the Assembly would vaccinate as many dogs as they could to limit transmission of from dog bites.
“It is a worldwide goal that by 2030, any deaths occurring because of dog transmitted rabies would be curbed in our communities, and that is why we are here today.”
He urged everyone in the municipality with dogs to take advantage of the opportunity, saying “everyone that showed up today would have their animal vaccinated for free, but when we go around the communities from tomorrow, an amount of GH¢5.00 would be charged for vaccination.”
Mr Godfried Lomotey, the Agricultural Director, KOKMA urged dog owners not to refuse to vaccinate their animals, saying there was a bye-law coming on board that would hold owners of dogs found wanting accountable.
“We are putting plans in place to get stray dogs, house them and surcharge the owners. We appeal to owners of such dogs to get hold and keep them, and ensure to vaccinate them once a year because when an unvaccinated dog bits someone the chances for that person to die is very high.”
GNA