By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA
Asuofia (Ash), Oct. 01, GNA – The Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has called on Parliament to speed up the processes on the passage of the Animal Health Bill 2020.
Its passage would help prevent the introduction into and spread of animal and zoonotic diseases as well as controlling animal movement into, out of, and within Ghana, and promote animal health and welfare.
It would also ensure the monitoring and safety of animal products and their origin and to regulate all matters connected to animal health and products of animal origin.
Dr Fenteng Danso, Head of Epidemiology of the VSD, who made the call, explained that the Diseases of Animals Act of 1961(Act 83) that regulated VSD, was outmoded and there was an urgent need to pass the new Bill to help protect and counter animal deaths.
He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 2024 World Rabies Day at Asuofia, in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region.
Dr Danso indicated that rabies elimination in Ghana could only be achieved through well-coordinated mass dog vaccinations, targeting 70 percent of the dog population annually for at least five years.
He, therefore, emphasized the need for the Government, stakeholders, and development partners to help break the boundaries that might hinder the achievement of the target set by Global Alliance for Rabies Control, by providing resources for a well-coordinated annual national mass and free anti-rabies campaigns from now to 2030.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Breaking Rabies Boundaries.”
The occasion was used to encourage Ghanaians to keep themselves and their families safe from rabies by promoting responsible dog ownership, vaccinating their dogs, preventing dog bites, and getting prompt vaccinations if bitten.
Dr. Danso noted that although many advances have been made, rabies remained a neglected, under-reported, untreatable, and yet preventable disease with the highest case fatality rate (100 percent) of any zoonotic disease, causing 55,000 deaths annually across the globe.
He said rabies was a vaccine-preventable disease and dogs were the most important reservoir for the rabid virus and have been the source of transmitting it to about 99 percent of all reported human cases.
Ghana reported 603 confirmed Rabies outbreaks from 2018 to 2024, with Ashanti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Western and Central regions being the most reported outbreaks.
He added that between 2023 and 2024, VSD has vaccinated 172,000 doses on dogs and cats, covering 20 percent coverage over the period.
The Head of Epidemiology indicated that the increase in the incidence of rabies in several parts of Ghana lately, had been blamed on the low vaccination coverage that could be attributed to owner apathy, perceived high cost of vaccination and failure to sanction dog owners who did not vaccinate their dogs.
Dr Danso called for adequate budgetary allocation to the animal health sector to achieve zero human deaths due to rabies by 2030.
Again, veterinary infrastructure across the country must be made visible in towns and villages in Ghana.
Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, stressed the need for Ghana to consider the reintroduction of mass rabies vaccination by Veterinary Services as was done in the olden days to help eradicate rabies in the country.
He urged all local assemblies to enforce laws on roaming animals and support vaccination of pets against rabies and provide funds for the VSD in districts to hold free rabies vaccination exercises in the communities.
GNA