From TCNEWS
The Abia State Ministry of Agriculture has joined the global community to commemorate World Rabies Day 2025, stressing the urgent need for collective action to eliminate the deadly but preventable disease.
Addressing members of Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), on Monday in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Ijeoma Adanma Aguwa, described rabies as one of the most fatal yet preventable diseases threatening communities across Nigeria.
“This year’s theme, ‘Act Now: You, Me, Community,’ is a powerful call to action,” Aguwa said, urging dog owners, health workers, policymakers, and communities to work together to eliminate rabies. “Every dog vaccinated is a life potentially saved. Every bite reported and treated properly is a step toward ending rabies in our state.”
Rabies, transmitted mainly through dog bites, is responsible for thousands of deaths globally each year, with children in rural areas being the most vulnerable. In Nigeria, limited access to vaccines and inadequate public awareness continue to fuel the problem.
Aguwa noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, through its Department of Veterinary Services, has been leading campaigns on dog and cat vaccinations, raising awareness on responsible pet ownership, and responding promptly to bite incidents. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Ministry of Health, security agencies, local governments, and communities under the One Health framework.
Highlighting the significance of the day, she reaffirmed Abia State’s commitment to Nigeria’s national target of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) goals.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Veterinary Services, Dr. Martins Okoji, gave a historical background on rabies and the discovery of its first vaccine by French scientist Louis Pasteur in 1885. He praised the scientific breakthrough that has since saved countless lives, adding that the Ministry continues to contribute meaningfully to public health by conducting regular meat inspections, maintaining boarder surveillance and in abattoirs too, and carrying out vaccination campaigns, including the recent anthrax vaccination exercise.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Dr. Kelechi Madubuike, said the association had embarked on a rabies awareness and vaccination campaign across the state. He called on residents to protect themselves and their pets by ensuring timely vaccination.
Other veterinary professionals, including Dr. Njoku Njoku, a veterinary consultant with Trustlink Ventures Limited and lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, joined in emphasizing the importance of sustained awareness and vaccination.
The campaign in Abia State highlights the urgent need for African countries to step up rabies prevention efforts, particularly in rural areas where children remain at risk. By aligning with global targets to eliminate rabies by 2030, Abia State underscores how local actions contribute to safeguarding public health, protecting communities, and ensuring a rabies-free future.
The event was attended by veterinary officers, health professionals, NGOs, community volunteers, and media representatives who pledged to intensify grassroots awareness to prevent unnecessary deaths from dog bites.
