The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has intensified efforts to eliminate rabies in Nigeria by 2030, rolling out sensitisation programmes in schools and preparing for a nationwide mass dog vaccination campaign.
Speaking during an awareness programme at Jabi II Secondary School, Abuja, the director and head of veterinary public health and epidemiology, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, described rabies as a growing public health concern, with increasing cases of human deaths from dog bites.
“Rabies is a very serious problem not only in Nigeria but across Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. It is one of the diseases targeted for global elimination by 2030,” he said.
He noted that children and women in rural areas were most vulnerable, stressing the need for annual vaccination of dogs and cats which provides up to 90 percent protection against outbreaks.
Dr Anzaku revealed that the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, would on Monday flag off a mass vaccination programme in Abuja, beginning with eight priority states before expanding nationwide.
He added that the success of the campaign depends on strong collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, as well as support from the private sector, NGOs, and international partners such as the FAO and WHO.
“The fight against rabies requires synergy. Together, we can achieve zero human deaths from rabies in Nigeria by 2030,” he said.
