At least 8 cases of rabies have been detected with 100 per cent death rate in the Ashanti Region within the half year.
The Regional Veterinary Services division says lack of committed funds to embark on yearly mass vaccination for dogs is the cause for rising cases of rabies and its associated death.
Three districts; Bosomtwe, Kwabre East and Asante Akim South, have been hit with the rise in confirmed outbreak of rabies cases and deaths.
“We’ve realised that the number of rabies cases we are getting in the region is going up. Within the half year we’ve recorded 8 cases and all the 8 have died. This means the dogs are not vaccinated,” Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services stated.
Mass vaccination for dogs has been a challenge over the years.
“By our mandate as veterinary services, we are supposed to carry out mass vaccination yearly but for some time now this has not been done. Government is not able to supply the services with the needed funds for us to carry out that exercise,” Dr Mabel Abudu, Ashanti Regional Veterinary Officer noted.
Dr Abudu was worried about the inability of some persons to adequately cater for their pets.
She said “some individuals who own pets don’t take care of them. They just go in for them without providing them proper feeding and vaccination. Once dogs are reservoirs of rabies, naturally it comes out. That’s why it is important to vaccinate them. It is about time bye-laws in the district is enforced for pet owners to vaccinate and take proper care of them.”
The public has been advised to be alert and liase with veterinary officers to vaccinate their dogs.
Also, all cases of dog bites should be treated.
Ghana is targeting to be a rabies-free country by 2030 but that can only be achieved through commitment.
By Ibrahim Abubakar|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
