Health officials warned against sale of anti-rabies vaccines

Cape Coast, March 17 GNA- Mr Ebenezer Koomson, Central Regional Coordinator of the Expanded Immunisation Programme (EIP) on Wednesday, cautioned health workers against the sale of human anti-rabies vaccines and urged the public to report such recalcitrant officials.

He expressed concern about the numerous cases of dog bites in the region and announced that the regional health directorate has received and distributed 2,000 doses of such vaccines, which are supposed to be used for treatment free of charge.

Mr Koomson, who issued the warning at the inauguration of a 21-member Regional Rabies Control Committee at Cape Coast, also expressed concern about the attitudes of some people within the Awutu-Efutu-Senya district who refuse to vaccinate their dogs against the disease on the grounds that the meat of vaccinated dogs "was tasteless."

The committee, which has Mrs Mary Opoku-Asiamah, Regional Director of Agriculture as its chairman, is to ensure that all the districts carry out effective anti-rabies control activities so as to curb the spread of the disease in the region.

He cautioned such people and urged them to endeavour to have their pets vaccinated against the disease, since it can kill, as well as the public, to refrain from buying such vaccines across the counter. Dr Augustus Nii Ayi Ayitey, Regional Veterinary officer, who gave an overview of the rabies situation in the region, said most of the rabies cases reported in the region were from dog bites.

He said since the last mass vaccination exercise in 1998, the region has recorded an increasing number of dog bites, and that from 2000 to date, a total of 97 cases of dog bites have been reported, with 21 cases of rabies.

Dr Ayitey, warned that everyone was at risk of being bitten by a rabid animal without necessarily owning one, and regretted that the biggest challenge facing his outfit now, was the unwillingness of some pet owners to vaccinate their pets, and the inadequate public education on the dangers of the disease.

He therefore, urged the committee members to endeavour to effectively educate the public, and on the district assemblies to enforce by-laws on stray animals, to enhance awareness.

Mrs Opoku-Asiamah, who inaugurated the committee, said the disease was endemic in the country, particularly in urban centres and called for a multi-sectoral approach in its control.

Dr Joseph Enchill, a veterinary surgeon who presided, called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to make funds available for a mass rabies campaign, stressing that "rabies is a killer and everything must be done to curb its spread".

He tasked the committee to take its work seriously to ensure that people at the grassroots were educated of the effects of the disease.