Lagos Targets 6,250 Dogs, Cats For Free Anti-Rabies Vaccination

The Lagos State Government has announced a free two-week mass anti-rabies vaccination campaign to curb the menace of the disease in the State, starting from Tuesday, February 16.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, made the disclosure in a  on Monday.

Olusanya said that the state plans to administer 6,250 vaccines to dogs and cats across the state, especially those made available at any of the State Government Veterinary Clinics.

The state has five major divisions of Veterinary Clinics in Badagry, Surulere, Ajah, Ikorodu, and Agege, among others.

She explained that the campaign was aimed at promoting awareness on rabies among dogs and cats since the disease was deadly and mostly transmitted to humans through bites from infected dogs, which could lead to death if not treated early.

“The disease could be contacted if the saliva from an infected animal got into an open wound or through the eyes or mouth of a human being,” she said.

The need for the campaign, according to her, followed increased cases of canine rabies across the state, making it an endemic problem.

“The flag-off programme takes place at Oba Ayangburen’s Palace, Ikorodu, on the 16th of February, 2021 by 10.00a.m,” Olusanya said.

The Commissioner warned that rabies is a fatal disease that causes up to 59,000 deaths globally every year and, therefore, must be treated with the seriousness.

“…It deserves by controlling and preventing its spread through regular vaccination of all pets and domestic animals against rabies,” she said.

The Commissioner, however, noted that concerted efforts must be made to control the stray dog population in the urban and rural areas for a significant reduction in the incidence of human and canine rabies in the State.

She further urged all dog owners to bring their dogs for vaccination at the designated veterinary clinics in the state, stressing the need to ensure that vaccination procedures are up-to-date as that was the only way to prevent human beings from getting infected.