The Kwara State Government has flagged off this year’s State-wide Anti-Rabies Mass Vaccination Campaign Exercise in Ilorin, the State Capital.
Similarly, the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has equally approved the release of funds to kick start the exercise.
The exercise is part of the present administration’s efforts to eradicate incidence of rabies through dog and cat bites in the state.
Speaking at the flag off, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Headquarters, in Ilorin, the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, expressed government’s commitment to the well-being of the people and animals in the state.
According to him, the state government is investing heavily in both human and animal health, in order to have a safe and healthy society.
“With this Anti-Rabies Mass Vaccination, there is no way we can have a good and healthy environment if, our pets are at risk, as we know the case fatality rate of rabies that is symptomatic is close to a hundred per cent as a result of cat and dog bites”, he said.
Mr Alabi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq noted that, if society can tackle the issue of virus in dogs and cats, less will be done in taking care of human beings with regard to the rabies virus.
The Deputy Governor called for a strong collaborative effort from the stakeholders, with a view to ending transmission of rabies through regular vaccination, and having a safe environment and a balanced ecosystem in the state.
In their goodwill messages, the stakeholders at the event lauded the state government’s strides in public health sector and called for stronger ties to have a disease-free society.
In his remarks, the Director, Veterinary Services of the Ministry, Dr Abdulateef Salman Olugbon, commended the state government for the approval and release of funds for the exercise, noting that the gesture has shown that the governor is committed to the peoples’ wellbeing at all costs.
Dr Olugbon appealed to the general public especially owners of both dogs and cats owners, to make their animals available for vaccination at the State’s Veterinary Offices across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.