The Lagos State government on Tuesday kick-started its free anti-rabies vaccination campaign to prevent deaths through dog bites.
The campaign, which is expected to last for two weeks, will vaccinate no fewer than 1.5 million dogs in all the five divisions of the state: Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe.
Abisola Olusanya, state Commissioner for Agriculture, while speaking at the flag-off of the vaccination campaign held at the palace of Oba Ayangburen of Ikorodu in the Ikorodu area of the state, noted that as the pioneering state in the exercise in the country, the vaccination exercise would take place for the next three years.
She said it was imperative that vaccination campaigns were held year-in year-out for the next three years in order for it to be effective among the dogs.
Olusanya opined that many of the dogs in the state were not registered or licensed, and many rabid dogs could be on the prowl.
She stressed the need for the vaccination exercise particularly since rabies was easily preventable through vaccination.She urged pet owners to bring their dogs and cats for the vaccination, stressing that the state government has made the exercise free of charge. (Independent)