Increasing death threats of rabies addressed during the World Rabies Day Celebrations.

Rabies has become a pressing issue in Ghana, with a concerning number of 793 suspected human cases and 77 deaths recorded between 2020 and 2023. The Veterinary Services Directorate has taken a serious approach by initiating celebrations in honor of World Rabies Day 2024 to enhance awareness about this deadly viral disease.

Rabies, a virus that affects mammals, is primarily spread through bites or scratches from infected animals. The infection leads to severe inflammation of the brain, often resulting fatal. It is distressing to note that children under 15 are at a higher risk, constituting 40% of those bitten by rabid animals.

The rise in rabies cases in urban areas, especially in cities like Accra and Kumasi, is attributed to sanitation challenges. “This is due to the growing population of stray and unvaccinated dogs. As Accra and Kumasi is growing astronomically, so are the stray dogs and most of them are not even vaccinated. What even compounds the problem is the availability of waste since these stray dogs thrive on the wastes we dispose of indiscriminately. So, once there is waste around, the stray dogs will multiply.”

“Public awareness on the disease and responsible pet ownership. They see a puppy by the roadside, oh the puppy is nice, they buy it and that is it, they don’t care for them. Once you’ve decided to keep a pet, it should be considered as part of the family. When you’re counting your family size, please don’t leave out the pets. There must be chop money for the pets.”

Dr. Joseph Kofi Abuh, the President of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association, highlighted “The inadequate budgetary allocation to the animal health sector is one of the challenges faced. If you go throughout the regions, we lack veterinary clinics which is woefully inadequate.”

The call for the passage of the Animal Health Bill aims to address these challenges by enhancing regulatory activities, disease surveillance, and capacity building to safeguard public health. The Risk Communication Officer, Michaela Wekem, outlined a series of activities planned for the celebration, underscoring the importance of collective support from stakeholders in achieving these objectives.