FAO warns of 100 % rabies fatalities without vaccination

The Ghana Health Service has expressed fears that Ghana may be losing the fight against rabies given the low patronage of vaccination services by dog owners.

It is estimated that less than five per cent of dogs in the country are vaccinated against the deadly disease because of  the supposed indifference of dog owners to the potential dangers of not vaccinating their dogs.

The Director of Disease Control of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, said the situation posed a challenge to Ghana's efforts to fight rabies.

“We need to pay attention to primary prevention and all other measures of prevention to stay on track in our fight against this deadly disease,” he stated.

Speaking at a joint news conference to launch Ghana's version of this year's World Rabies Day in Accra last Wednesday, Dr Asiedu-Bekoe described the situation as unfortunate. 

This year's celebration has been dubbed "vaccinate to eliminate" and is taking in Sunyani in the Bono Region today.

Vaccinating every dog

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said as the country joined the global community to celebrate the day, there was the need for responsible dog ownership.

“Every dog must be owned and owners must ensure their dogs are vaccinated annually,” he stressed, tasking the leadership of the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD), the GHS and the Ministry of Health to ensure access and availability of the anti-rabies vaccine.

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said rabies killed 59,000 people annually globally, with 24,000 of the deaths occurring in Africa, adding that about 60 per cent of the victims were children under 16 years.

Effects of rabies

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, observed that rabies was under-estimated and associated with the poor, whose deaths were virtually unreported, attributing it to low awareness.

He said rabies had been selected as one of six zoonotic diseases for close surveillance by the agricultural and health sectors for a clearer understanding of the disease situation and better management.

Strategy

Dr Akoto announced that a National Rabies Control Strategy had been drafted with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

He said it comprised human health, animal health components and inter-sectorial coordination components and guidelines for achieving rabies-free status by 2030, adding that it would soon be presented to stakeholders and the general public for discussion and their endorsement for implementation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative for Ghana, Dr Owen Kaluwa, urged Ghana to ensure that the necessary validation processes were completed to facilitate the finalisation and implementation of country-led strategies to control the disease.

Aim of celebration

The Assistant Director-General and FAO Representative to Ghana, Mr Abebe Haile-Gabriel, explained that the aim of the day was to highlight the essential role of mass canine vaccination in rabies elimination.

“It also indicates the need for human vaccination to save lives in case of potential exposure to rabies.

“Vaccination is the key fundamental control measure to eliminate rabies by 2030 as envisaged by ‘United Against Rabies 2030’ led by the Global Action for Rabies control,” he stressed.