By: Lalo Jaiteh
The Gambia Government through the Department of Livestock Services under the Ministry of Agriculture recently celebrated World Rabies Day at held at DLS lab in Abuko,and attended by Veterinarian Dr. Babucarr Jaw, on behalf of AU- IBAR and government official.
It was held under the theme The Theme. ‘Says it all Rabies. Vaccinate to eliminate’
Momodou Mbye Jabang, Permanent Secretary 2 Ministry of Agriculture said his ministry and department switch the commemorates mark with a launching of a free vaccination campaign as well as unveils the curtains for a new rabies diagnostic unit in the Central Veterinary Laboratory.
He noted that the ministry of Agriculture, through its technical department responsible for veterinary services is committed to The Global Strategic Plan to Prevent Human Deaths from Dog-transmitted Rabies by 2030.
According to him, Rabies is one of the deadliest zoonosis in the world with an estimated 59,000 human deaths each year globally.
He said this simply means one person dies every 9minutues from Rabies. Most of those who die are children from rural areas all over the world including The Gambia.
He added that more than 95% of human cases of Rabies are due to a bite from an infected dog, nonetheless this disease is 100% preventable and dog bites from infected dogs is responsible for almost all of it.
“This year theme really suits our needs. Rabies. Vaccinate to Eliminate so we have the option to eliminate Rabies. We can prevent rabies deaths through vaccinating 70% of dogs in the Gambia, intensify our awareness campaign and provide the life- saving Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) post -bite for people” he said.
Dr. Abdou Ceesay, Director General Department of Livestock stressed on the importance of this day in the calendar of the department of livestock services.
According to him, this day is a day mark to control of rabies worldwide.
