The Acting Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Damien Punguyire, has cautioned the public to prevent cases of rabies due to the devastating nature of the deadly disease.
He said rabies is not curable and therefore noted that the only way of managing the dreaded disease is early reporting of cases of dog bite.
Dr Damien made this known in a one day sensitization workshop on rabies control and prevention at SEM-B lodge in Wa ahead of 2020 world rabies day in Lawra.
Among the Six Zoological diseases, rabies is regarded as the most fearsome and it is estimated that 70,000 people die of rabies every year across the world.
The workshop was organized for media practitioners in the Upper West Region by USAID to discuss advocacy and control activities towards a set target of Zero rabies by the year 2030.
It was revealed that the Upper West Region has a dog population of 36,171 with 1,947 vaccinated in the first half of 2020.
Lack of resources and poor reporting were stated as some of the factors hindering surveillance against rabies in Ghana.
According to Dr Suleman Sako, the Upper West Regional Veterinary Officer, a total number of 14 human rabies cases was recorded in the region between 2015 and 2019 while indicating that the number of dog bite cases has reduced from 776 cases to 470 cases within the same period.
Dr MY Ziekah, who works with Wild life development and serves as the Manager of Kumasi Zoo encouraged people to protect dogs by vaccinating them against rabies every year.
In the year 2020, Lawra district recorded an outbreak of rabies with 2 human deaths. The theme for this year’s rabies day is “End Rabies, Collaborate, Vaccinate”
BY: ALHASSAN TAJUDEEN
