The Vertinary Technologist Association of Ghana, Eastern Region chapter has conducted a free compulsory vaccination for dogs and other pets against rabbies in the New Juaben municipality.
The exercise formed part of the Vertinary Technologist Association of Ghana, Eastern Region chapter’s 41st national week celebration.
For many years, the Veterinary Technologist have played an important role in the veterinary services delivery in the county and this years celebration is on the theme: “Ghana Public Health Delivery System: The role of the Veterinary Technologist.”
Mr Vincent Annang Mensah, Eastern Regional chairman, said the goal was to support efforts to eradicate the deadly rabies disease caused by unvaccinated animals.
Statistics in the region showed that recorded rabbies cases in the region were due to large population of stray dogs and unvaccinated pets in homes as well.
He said bites from pets, especially dogs constituted the major mode of transmission and urged the public to cooperate with the Vertinary services to ensure the safety of all, especially children.
Mr Mensah advised the public to vaccinate their pets from age three months upwards as well as report any dog bite or scratch from pets to the nearest health facility or Vertinary office for prompt medical care and investigation.
Rabbies remains one of the zoonotic diseases which is mostly fatal following the onset of clinical signs and symptoms.
In 2023, Ghana signed onto the global agenda of achieving “zero Human Deaths from Dogs-mediated Rabies by 2030.”
Rabies is a significant public health concern in Ghana and data shows that between 2013 and 2015, 4,821 reported dog bite cases, with 15 clinically diagnosed human rabies cases were recorded.
This translates to an annual incidence of 172 cases per 100,000 population. Children under 10 years old were most affected, accounting for 21.9% of cases.
In 2024, five rabbies cases were recorded in the Eastern Region, specifically in Donkokrom, Oyoko, Monrovia, and Nyamekrom.
