By Precious D. Freeman
In continuation of the rabies and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccination, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has donated several veterinary equipment and materials to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to boost the vaccination exercise.
Speaking at the donation ceremony, the country team leader, Ibrahim Gashash Ahmed, mentioned that the purpose of the vaccination is to ensure that 70% of the dog population is vaccinated against rabies, with a similar effort applied to sheep and goats, to guide against PPR.
According to him, the materials will be given to the Chief Veterinary Officer, Joseph Anderson, to form a team that will travel to the southeastern counties to distribute them.
“FAO has always been a partner working immensely with the Ministry of Agriculture through the office of the veterinary officer to control animal diseases in Liberia,” he said.
He continued that they will be distributing 20,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 350,000 doses of PPR vaccine.
“These are very serious diseases that affect the animals, and this donation will eradicate and reduce rabies infection caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans, most likely leading to their death, if not treated before symptoms begin, once bitten by a rabid animal,” he said.
Country Leader Ahmed added that eradication of diseases, rabies and PPR is a target for the world by 2030, as PPR alone threatens food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and prevent animal husbandry sectors from achieving their economic potential, now being confirmed in many counties of Liberia.
“There have been national strategies for the control and eradication of the diseases developed under the guidance of international bodies, including FAO, ECOWAS, OIE and supported by USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) activity and the Regional Diseases Surveillance Enhancement Project supported by the World bank,” he noted.
Accepting the donated materials, Anderson appreciated the good work of the FAO and promised to use them for the intended purpose.
He added that the materials will buttress the government efforts by helping to eliminate efforts aims to achieve zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies.
