Oyo govt begins anti-rabies vaccination campaign

The Oyo State government has commenced anti-rabies vaccination campaign to curb the menace of rabies in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, who made the disclosure, on Friday, said the campaign is in collaboration with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Oyo State branch.

He added that it is also part of activities marking the 2023 World Rabies Day in Ibadan.

According to Olaleye, the vaccination programme demonstrates the resolve of the state government to eradicate rabies by increasing the availability and accessibility of anti-rabies vaccines in the state.

He added that it is important that humans are protected from diseases that are transmissible from animals, stating that about 70 per cent of infectious diseases affecting humans are of animal origin.

“We have also improved our surveillance and reporting systems, to monitor anthrax and every zoonotic diseases, to evaluate the impact of our collective interventions,” he said

He however hinted that the state would be ready to partner with any association or group to ensure people of the state are healthy.

The Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association Oyo State branch, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, in his address, commended the  state government  for been proactive in fighting against zoonotic diseases, adding that free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs was part of efforts to celebrate this year’s Wold Rabies Day.

In another development, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, has engaged owners of companies and industrial facilities in the state over the stance of the government on absolute cleanliness and environmental Law compliance.

Mogbonjubola who met with various owners of agro-allied and chemical industries, construction companies, food and beverages industries, quarries and other industrial facilities in the state, then called for adequate collaboration in sustaining the environment through healthy ways of evacuation of solid, liquid or re-circled and emitted wastes.