By Treezer Michelle Atieno
Mass rabies vaccination drives play a crucial role in safeguarding human and animal populations against the deadly rabies virus. Recently, Nairobi City County took a significant step in this direction by organizing a free mass anti-rabies vaccination drive in collaboration with various animal welfare organizations to curb the spread of rabies within the city.
Rabies is a highly fatal viral disease that affects both animals and humans, transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, typically a dog, in urban settings. Once symptoms appear, rabies becomes almost invariably fatal. The disease attacks the central nervous system, leading to a range of symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle spasms, and ultimately death. Rabies poses a significant public health threat, with children under the age of 15 being particularly vulnerable.
The recent mass vaccination drive in Nairobi targeted dogs, cats and donkeys, recognizing that rabies can affect various animal species. A total of 726 dogs, 84 cats, and 185 donkeys were vaccinated during the exercise, and each animal received a vaccination certificate as proof of immunization. The vaccination drive took place across several locations within the city, ensuring accessibility for pet owners from different areas.
Dr Joseph Kabatha, Director of Veterinary Services for Nairobi County, emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing rabies. He highlighted the burden that rabies places on both individuals and society as a whole, citing the significant number of bite wounds reported annually, particularly among children. Vaccination, he stressed, is a cost-effective measure for controlling rabies transmission and reducing the associated medical care costs.
The World Health Organization estimates that one person dies from rabies every nine minutes globally, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures. The County Government of Nairobi has implemented various strategies to prevent and eliminate rabies. These include public health education, active surveillance protocols, and mass vaccination campaigns. By empowering residents with knowledge about rabies and promoting responsible pet ownership, authorities aim to minimize the incidence of the disease.
Beyond mass vaccination drives, ongoing surveillance efforts are crucial for detecting and responding to rabies outbreaks. Nairobi’s Directorate of Veterinary Services conducts regular surveillance activities throughout the county to monitor rabies occurrences and ensure timely intervention and collaboration with animal welfare organizations- further strengthening these efforts and information dissemination and resources to the public.
The recent mass anti-rabies vaccination drive in Nairobi reflects a proactive approach to public health and animal welfare as it provides free vaccination services and raises awareness about rabies prevention, leading to the protection of human and animal populations from this deadly disease and continued collaboration between government agencies, community stakeholders, and veterinary professionals will be essential in achieving sustained success in rabies control and elimination efforts.
