By Renson Buluma

Livestock and Public Health ministries have launched a joint initiative to control rabies.

Livestock Development Minister Mohammed Kuti said they have embarked on a campaign dubbed ‘working together to make rabies history,’ which aims at vaccinating animals and creating awareness on prevention.

Speaking during celebrations to mark the World Rabies Day at Nanderema Secondary School in Samia District, the minister said urgent action should be taken to control the disease.

Three-year-old Duncan Juma takes his puppy for vaccination against rabies at Nanderema market, Samia District on Saturday as the World Rabies Day was marked. Fisheries Minister Paul Otuoma commissioned the event. Photo: Renson Buluma/Standard

Kuti said the disease was devastating, but could be easily prevented.

"We are working in collaboration to improve the control of rabies through vaccination of dogs, cats and other animals that are at risk," said Kuti in a speech read on his behalf by Fisheries minister Paul Otuoma.

Kuti said his ministry would engage all stakeholders and allocate resources to stem the disease.

Present at the event were Western PC Samuel Kilele and the Kenya Veterinary Association chairman Elizabeth Ouko.

According to statistics by the Alliance for Rabies Control, a UK-based registered charity, more than 55,000 people die every year from rabies, with most deaths occurring in Africa and Asia.

Dr Otuoma said children are at risk of contracting rabies because most families keep domestic animals, but few take them for vaccination.

He said there was need for disseminating information to the public on how to prevent their exposure to the disease.

"Most people who die of the disease are those who do not take precautionary measures," said Otuoma.

Cases of rabies have been on the increase in Samia District, with more than 147 people reportedly bitten by dogs in the last eight months.

The minister said many people could not afford the Sh1,500 charged to give a single dose of treatment for the disease.

"We recently lost a middle-aged woman from Nanderema village because she could not afford the five doses required," said Otuoma.

at risk

During the event, hundreds of animals were vaccinated free of charge.

According to the World Health Organisation, people most at risk of rabies live in rural Africa and Asia.

An estimated 31,000 people die from dog rabies in Asia each year. In Africa the annual death toll is 24,000, according to reports.

Dog rabies is responsible for more than 14 million courses of post-exposure treatment to prevent the onset of disease. (See picture on Page 12)