The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association has urged pet owners to keep their pets within their premises and ensure they are fully vaccinated against rabies.
The National President of the association, Dr. Oluwatoyin Adetuberu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja, in commemoration of World Rabies Day.
Adetuberu, therefore, identified being a responsible dog or pet owner as a way forward towards
reducing the burden of rabies in the country.
The veterinarian, who described the challenges posed by rabies in the country as enormous and devastating, explained that “anybody bitten by a rabid dog may not be productive.”
According to her, there is no cure for rabies and the only way is to prevent it.
The NVMA president advised the government to employ more veterinarians who would be involved in the vaccination of dogs across the country.
Adetuberu advised all sectors to pursue animal health, environmental health, and plant health “for us to sustain human health.”
