By Gami Tadanyigbe
The Kuje Area Council Administration has commenced an Anti-Rabies Awareness and Free Vaccination Campaign aimed at preventing the spread of rabies and protecting the lives of residents, animals and communities across the Area Council.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Council Secretariat, underscores the administration’s commitment to public health, responsible animal ownership and the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases—diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
Flagging off the campaign, the Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo, urged dog and cat owners across the various wards of the Area Council to take full advantage of the free vaccination exercise and ensure that their pets are vaccinated.
The Chairman emphasised that prevention remains safer, more effective and more economical than dealing with the consequences of disease outbreaks. He also cautioned residents against keeping pets they are unable or unwilling to properly care for.
Hon. Shekwolo called on traditional rulers, religious leaders and other community stakeholders to support the campaign by disseminating accurate information and ensuring that the message reaches households across the Area Council.
He particularly urged parents to educate their children on the importance of safe interaction with animals, stressing the need for residents to promptly report suspected cases of rabies and incidents of animal bites to the appropriate authorities.
The Chairman commended the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary and Livestock Services, veterinary professionals and other stakeholders for their commitment and efforts towards making the campaign a reality.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the National Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), FCT Chapter, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Dr.) Chinnaemeka Joe-Iruobo, called on stakeholders to collaborate with the Association towards eliminating rabies from Abuja and Nigeria.
She emphasised that no animal bite should be ignored, advising anyone bitten by, or exposed to, a suspected rabid animal to seek immediate professional medical attention and report the incident to the relevant health and veterinary authorities.
Joe-Iruobo commended the Kuje Area Council administration for taking proactive steps to create awareness and provide free vaccination for animals, describing the initiative as an important intervention in the fight against rabies.
Also speaking, the Director of Agriculture and Veterinary Services, Kuje Area Council, Dr. Sunday Agbana, disclosed that the vaccination exercise would last for five days and cover as many eligible dogs and cats as possible across the Area Council.
Dr. Agbana urged residents to cooperate with veterinary officials and make their pets available for vaccination during the exercise, noting that collective action by government, professionals, animal owners and communities would contribute significantly to making Kuje Area Council a safer and healthier environment for both humans and animals.
The Kuje Area Council Administration therefore urged all residents, particularly pet owners, to participate actively in the campaign and support efforts to prevent rabies and promote responsible animal ownership throughout the Area Council.