The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has extended its 2026 World Rabies Day campaign to communities in Rivers State, combining public education with free vaccination of dogs in Bonny Local Government Area.
The outreach followed a symposium held at Rivers State University as part of activities to mark the annual event, which focused on preventing rabies through vaccination, responsible animal ownership and stronger cooperation between human and animal health professionals.
The Rivers State chapter of the NVMA said the campaign was designed to move beyond awareness to practical measures that can reduce the risk of rabies infections and deaths.
The association stressed the importance of vaccination, disease surveillance, public education, responsible ownership of animals and prompt treatment following exposure to potentially infected animals.
At the Bonny outreach, the NVMA team visited the local government council before moving to the Industrial Unit Field, where residents, dog owners and students from three secondary schools participated in the awareness programme.
Participants were educated on rabies prevention, responsible dog ownership and safe behaviour around dogs, before dogs were vaccinated against the disease at no cost.
The campaign was conducted under the global theme, ‘Stronger Together’, with the Rivers chapter adopting ‘Stronger Together, Saving Lives’ as its sub-theme.
At the symposium, speakers highlighted the need for a coordinated response to rabies, noting that the disease affects both human and animal health.
The keynote speaker, Prof. B.B. Fakae, said rabies remains one of the deadliest zoonotic diseases, with clinical cases almost invariably fatal, despite the availability of effective vaccines for humans and animals.
He identified inadequate healthcare delivery, limited community awareness and poor coordination among professionals as challenges to rabies control, while calling for stronger veterinary services in Rivers State.
Fakae also advocated the One Health approach, which links human, animal and environmental health in tackling diseases that can spread between animals and people.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mercy Dagobu Iboroma, said the state was working to strengthen veterinary services at the State Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostic Centre.
She also supported continued collaboration among government agencies, veterinary and health professionals, schools, communities and animal owners in preventing rabies.
The NVMA said the Bonny campaign formed part of its effort to take rabies prevention messages directly to communities while increasing access to dog vaccination.
Discussion0