The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin a two-week mass rabies vaccination across the territory from Wednesday.

The Mandate Secretary, Suleiman Ango, said this while addressing veterinary and animal health officials at the FCT Veterinary Clinic in Nyaya, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Mr Ango, represented by the Director of Veterinary Services, Dandam Karnak, charged veterinary officers to uphold high professional standards during the campaign.

He commended the field officers for their dedication to the critical public health intervention, emphasising that discipline and professionalism would be crucial to the success of the exercise.

He reassured the teams of the administration’s full support as they traversed every nook and cranny of the six area councils to ensure no community was left behind.

“The vaccination exercise will be provided entirely free of charge by the FCTA and must not be sold under any circumstances.

“The government bears the full cost of the exercise to protect residents. As such, any officer found demanding or accepting payment from pet owners will face the full weight of disciplinary action,” he said.

On July 15, the FCTA confirmed eight rabies cases and two deaths in the territory and urged residents to vaccinate their dogs and cats to curb the virus’ spread.

The administration, thereafter, announced plans to begin a mass vaccination exercise in all villages and towns in the six area councils of the FCT. 

(NAN)