General News
Federal Government Takes Initiative to Eradicate Human Rabies by 2030
By Iyojo Ameh
In a joint ministerial news conference held to commemorate World Rabies Day on September 28, 2023, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced its determined efforts to eliminate human rabies in the country by the year 2030.
Rabies, considered one of the deadliest diseases known to humanity, affects both humans and warm-blooded animals. It is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, with dogs responsible for approximately 99 percent of these exposures in Nigeria.
To combat this lethal disease, the Federal Government has been procuring Anti Rabies Vaccines for animal vaccination and Human pre- and post-exposure vaccines for individuals at high risk of rabies, including animal health workers, hunters, and those exposed to infected animals.
Minister Kyari urged citizens to vaccinate their dogs and cats annually and keep them on leashes, emphasizing that rabies is entirely preventable through vaccination. He stressed the importance of swift prophylaxis following exposure to the virus.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Ishak Salako, highlighted the significance of the 2023 World Rabies Day theme, “All for 1-One Health for All.” He called for coordinated efforts and health education to mitigate the disease’s impact, citing stray dogs as a major source of infection.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, explained that rabies is spread through the saliva of infected animals and is responsible for an estimated 59,000 human deaths annually, primarily in poor rural communities in Africa and Asia. He emphasized that one person dies of rabies every nine minutes globally.
The Global Strategic Plan for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 was highlighted as an ambitious yet achievable initiative. Key risk factors for rabies include the trading of dogs, processing and consuming dog meat, irresponsible dog ownership, and the presence of stray dogs.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, reminded stakeholders that rabies has remained endemic in Nigeria since its first reported case in 1912. He called upon all parties to unite in the fight to control and ultimately eliminate rabies in Nigeria.
The Federal Government’s commitment to eradicating rabies by 2030 reflects a crucial step toward safeguarding public health and animal welfare in Nigeria.