The Divisional Delegate of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, MINEPIA, Kupe Muanenguba, Tantoh Fai Derick, has installed mobile clinics in the division, for the administration of free rabies vaccines to dogs, cats and other animals.
The free vaccination to animals is in line with the celebration of the 18th World Rabies Day celebrated every September 28. The 2024 edition is commemorated under the theme, “Breaking Rabies Boundaries.”
Besides installing mobile clinics in market squares and community centers in Bangem, Nguti and Tombel, the Tantoh led team also carried out door to door sensitization to raise awareness and educate the public on the dangers of rabies, its symptoms, transmission, and methods of prevention, ensuring the safety of both animals and humans within Kupe Muanenguba Division.
Speaking to The Ultimate, the delegate disclosed that their target audience for the sensitization campaign is farmers and livestock owners, pet owners (dogs, cats, etc.), community leaders, schools and children, hunters and forest workers and the general public in urban and rural areas.
He said they have organized local gatherings in all sub-divisions (Nguti, Tombel, Bangem) and staff from his delegaton are holding community educational sessions to inform the public on rabies, how it is transmitted, and its symptoms.
Tantoh revealed that they equally stress on the importance of regular pet vaccinations, immediate steps to take after an animal bite, amongst others.
He said they are using tools like visual aids (posters, flyers), sample vaccines, and practical demonstrations on how to handle an animal bite situation.
According to Tantoh, they have organized workshops to train community health workers on recognizing rabies symptoms, providing first aid for animal bites, and referring victims for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
The delegate added that they are working closely with the Divisional Medical Officer to ensure proper medical management is available for suspected rabies exposures.
Tantoh concluded that by implementing these comprehensive sensitization and vaccination measures, the livestock staff in Kupe Muanenguba Division will significantly reduce the risk of rabies transmission, safeguarding both human and animal health. Continuous education, timely vaccination, and proper handling of animal bites are critical to achieving rabies.
While sensitizing Bangem population at the market, the Sub Divisional Delegate of MINEPIA, Bangem, Henry Nganje stated that rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans.
He said it is caused by the ‘Lyssavirus’ and is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, such as dogs, bats, and other wildlife.
Nganje said the symptoms of Rabies include; fever, headache, fatigue, pain or tingling at the site of the bite. He said advanced symptoms are agitation, anxiety, hydrophobia (fear of water), difficulty swallowing qmongst others.
As a preventive measure, he called on the population to regularly vaccinate pets (dogs, cats) and livestock.
At the Bangem District Hospital, Dr. Esambe Emmanuel, Director lauded Tantoh and his team for the sensitization on rabies. He said this will not only reduce the cases of rabies infected person, but will equally eradicate rabies in the division.
By Olive Ejang
