By Regina Agana Akantiba
The Director of Public Health, Dr Lawrence Lartey, says there is a need for public education on rabies.
Dr. Lartey said, “it is high time all stakeholders come on board to eradicate the disease out of the system.”
He said rabies in animals and humans is on the rise, hence, there is a need to take drastic measures to achieve the zero death goal by 2030.
Dr Lartey made this known at a media briefing in Accra to mark the launch of this year’s world Rabbies Day celebration.
According to the Chief Vertinary Officer at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Patrick Abakeh, “dog mediated rabies is one of the zoonotic neglected diseases which is killing many people in rural communities, especially children.”
Dr. Abakeh stated that rabies death in humans is entirely avoidable with prompt and appropriate medical care. He said, “vaccinating 70 percent of the fog population is the surest way to eliminate the diesase.”
Dr Abakeh, therefore, called on policymakers and other stakeholders to help in the fight against the disease.
According to the WHO, dog-related rabies kills more than 70, 000 people each year, mostly in Asia and Africa. Dr. Lartey said, “the best way to prevent and eliminate rabies is to do mass dog vaccinations and keeping the surroundings clean.”