The Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has officially launched a nationwide mass rabies vaccination campaign aimed at inoculating 25,000 dogs and cats across designated high-risk zones.
The exercise, which runs as part of World Rabies Month 2026 under the theme “Stronger Together,” seeks to advance the country’s broader goal of eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by the year 2030.
Under the initiative, pet owners across the country can access free vaccination services throughout September 2026, after which standard statutory fees will be reinstated.
Addressing the public on the drive, the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Emmanuel Allegye-Cudjoe, urged animal owners to act responsibly and take advantage of the free window to protect their households and communities.
“Rabies is virtually 100 per cent fatal once symptoms develop, but it is preventable through vaccination,” Dr Allegye-Cudjoe said, warning that failure to vaccinate pets may constitute a legal offence under applicable Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly bye-laws.
He further advised pet owners to ensure annual vaccinations for their dogs and cats, while instructing the public to report any animal bites or scratches immediately to the nearest health facility and notify local veterinary centres about the animal involved.
To deepen public awareness, the ministry is stepping up educational campaigns across schools, religious bodies, traditional institutions, and media platforms, utilizing social media alongside audio and video broadcasts in Twi, Ga, Ewe, and Hausa.
The department has called on local assemblies, civil society organisations, religious leaders, development partners, and private veterinary service providers to support the initiative through vaccine provision, logistics, and community mobilization.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
