By Eunice Orike
Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has mobilised veterinary officers for a two-week free mass rabies vaccination exercise across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The Secretariat also warned veterinary personnel involved in the exercise against demanding money from pet owners, stressing that the vaccination is completely free.
The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Dandam Karnak, gave the warning while addressing veterinary and animal health officials at the FCT Veterinary Clinic in Nyanya.
Karnak, who represented the ARDS Mandate Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Suleiman Ango, commended the officers for their commitment to the public health exercise.
He urged the veterinary personnel to maintain discipline and high professional standards throughout the campaign.
According to him, the success of the vaccination exercise would depend largely on the commitment and professionalism of the officers deployed to the field.
He assured the teams of the administration’s full support as they move across communities in the six Area Councils to ensure that residents have access to the vaccination.
Karnak said the exercise was designed to protect both animals and residents from the danger posed by rabies, adding that no community should be left out.
He stressed that the vaccination was being provided entirely free of charge by the FCTA.
“The vaccination is free and must not be sold under any circumstances,” he warned.
The Director also directed officers to ensure that pet owners were not exploited during the exercise.
He warned that any veterinary officer found demanding or accepting payment from pet owners would face disciplinary action.
He explained that the government had made adequate arrangements to bear the full cost of the exercise as part of efforts to protect residents and promote public health.
Karnak urged residents to cooperate with the veterinary teams and make their pets available for vaccination when the officers arrive in their communities.
The two-week exercise is expected to cover communities across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
