By Damiliola Samuel
The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Rivers State Chapter, has called for stronger enforcement of dog vaccination regulations as part of efforts to prevent rabies and protect residents from the deadly disease.
The association said compliance with dog vaccination requirements should not be left to public awareness alone, stressing that enforcement by relevant authorities, including the police, is necessary to promote responsible pet ownership.
NVMA Rivers Chairman, Dr Gloria Daminabo, made the call during a meeting with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, ahead of the 2026 World Rabies Day activities.
Daminabo warned that rabies remains a major public health threat because once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
“Rabies is almost 100 per cent fatal once clinical signs appear, but is also almost 100 per cent preventable through vaccination of dogs,” she said.
The association is expected to intensify public education ahead of World Rabies Day on September 28, with this year’s theme, “Stronger Together, Saving Lives.”
Among the activities planned in Rivers are school sensitisation programmes, media advocacy, a stakeholder symposium and community-based vaccination of dogs.
The veterinary body also wants greater cooperation with the police in tackling quackery, saying people who practise veterinary medicine without the necessary qualifications could put both animals and the public at risk.
Daminabo noted that veterinarians play a wider public health role beyond treating animals, particularly in preventing diseases that can pass from animals to humans.
Their responsibilities also include meat inspection and monitoring activities in slaughter facilities.
Responding to the concerns, Adewole urged the association to maintain its public awareness campaign on rabies and other public health issues.
The police commissioner described the engagement as insightful and said there were opportunities for stronger cooperation between the two professions.
The NVMA has invited Adewole to its state-level World Rabies Day symposium scheduled for September 24 at the Rivers State University Amphitheatre, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt.
