Ebonyi community to embark on house-to-house anti-rabies vaccine

By Elizabeth Eze

Ebonyi State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources said its would commence house-to-house vaccination of anti-rabies vaccine on dogs and cats at Izzi Local Government Area of the state. 

The Desk Officer of Animal Health in the area and staff of the ministry, Mrs Augustina Nwaojiji said the exercise was to ensure reasonable number of the animals would be captured to prevent and eradicate rabies. 

Nwaojiji stated this during the launch of free anti-rabies vaccination campaign on Saturday at Iboko, Izzi LGA secretariat. 

She, However commended the World Health Organisation (WHO), among other co-sponsors in their fights to eradicate rabies in the country. 

"After the flag off, we will commence house-to-house vaccination of free vaccine campaign. It a welcome development and we appreciate all partners," Nwaojiji said. 

Mr Amos Nwaofoke, Farmer and  Veterinary expert, also commended the partners for the gesture and applead for sustainance to achieve the goal. 

Nwaofoke recalled that such gesture were made in 1984 to the LGA, following an outbreak of the diseases. 

"We were given such vaccine in that year because of frequent cases of the disease and bites, when the state was still under old Anambra state," Nwaofoke said. 

Dr Ephraim Nwanga, the Director, Veterinary Services Department in the state Ministry of Agriculture, encouraged staff and stakeholders in the area on the need for collaboration. 

The Project Officer, Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement (REDISSE), in the state, Dr Gloria Magaji and Dr Jonah Ajifken said in collaboration with other organisation, they are working towards saving lives. 

The Chairman of the council area, Mr Paul Nwogh and the Head of Department, Agriculture in the area, Mr Sunday Ogaga, commended the organisations and federal government for the free vaccine campaign. 

According to Nwogh, "Your efforts to prevent and eradicate rabies in our society will not be in vain. 

"And we promise to drive the exercise to the villages by working with the community leaders, ward-by-ward to ensure dogs and cats are captured." 

The Agency reports that exercise featured staff of the federal ministry of agriculture in the state among other officials.