Nation
1,500 Nigerians Die Of Rabies Yearly -FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) yesterday said that 1,500 Nigerians die of rabies related disease yearly.
Dr Ayo Majekodunmi, National Coordinator, FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary and Animal Diseases (ECTAD), made this known during a symposium organised for students in Abuja.
The event was to commemorate the 2021 World Rabies Day with the theme “Rabies: Facts not Fear’’.
Majekodunmi said that about 59,000 deaths worldwide are children who are at very high risk of contracting rabies, because they are most prone to getting bitten by dogs.
He said that dogs, cats, human beings, cattle, monkeys and any warm blooded animal could be infected by rabies or could transmit it.
She said it is important to educate the children who are at risk to understand how the disease is transmitted, how it can be prevented and what they need to do if they are bitten by any animal that is suspected of rabies infection.
She said that rabies is 100 per cent preventable by vaccination.
“Apart from vaccinating our dogs and pets, human beings can also be vaccinated.
“We recommend the vaccination not only for dogs and other pets but also for human beings who are in professions where they are at higher risk, such as veterinarians, hunters and other people who are in contact with the animals,’’ she said.
Majekodunmi said that there is also another type they call the post exposure vaccination.
“This is the treatment that you get if you have been bitten by a dog or any other animal suspected to have rabies.
“The bite should be immediately washed with soap and water for 15 minutes to wash out the saliva of the animal and the rabies virus.
“Also immediately seek medical care to prevent getting infected with the disease,’’ she said.
Speaking on the accessibility of the vaccine, while noting that rabies vaccine is mostly available in general hospitals and primary health care centres, she lamented that Nigeria does not have much of the vaccine.
She however reiterated the need to improve on the amount of vaccine that is available in the country.
She urged people to be sensitised on how rabies is transmitted and what they can do to prevent it.
“Because once we know the fact, know the tools that we need to keep ourselves and our animals safe, we no longer need to fear rabies’’, she said.
Dr Olaniran Alabi, Director of Veterinary and Pest Control Services of FMARD, in his remarks, said that the department would continue to support states with vaccines.
He said that the department would also support with other resources to meet the target of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by the year 2030 as set by WHO, OIE and FAO.
Alabi said the symposium was important to enlighten school ambassadors because it would help them pass on the information among their peers as children are the most vulnerable group.
“The disease thrives in low to middle income countries of Africa and Asia affecting mostly children due to ignorance.
“In Nigeria, over one million persons are at risk of exposure to rabies virus through dog bite as the majority of them are unlicensed, unvaccinated and allowed to roam freely’’, he said.
World Rabies Day is marked annually across the globe on September 28.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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