The Ashanti regional veterinary office has revealed that communities within Asante Akyem Agogo recorded the highest case of rabies in the Ashanti region.

Most of the people in these farming communities have low income paying jobs, hence the rise in cases of rabies.

In view of this, over two hundred cats and dogs have benefitted from a free rabies vaccination exercise by the Ghana Veterinary Medical Students Association (GVMSA) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The group, led by the president of the association, Opoku Bannor Johnson vaccinated pets in seven communities.

He was hopeful that this outreach will help curb the number of rabies cases in the community.

“As students of veterinary giving back to the society what they have learnt, we decided to engage in this exercise by conforming to the agenda of WHO which is zero cases by 2030. To us this means zero rabies by 2030,” he said.

Municipal veterinary officer, Dr. Angela Oforiwaa Agyei was hopeful the outreach will impact on the lives of people and animals in these communities.

She urged them to undertake yearly vaccination exercise to avoid casualties.

“I was expecting to meet a lot of farmers but the situation was different when we arrived. The farmers were all gone to their various farms. We did a lot and I think it is ok.

“I will advise them to do a yearly vaccination since rabies is a zoonotic disease so it is good for dogs to be vaccinated yearly," she said.

Some of the residents were happy about the outreach.

“I have learnt that this disease is called rabies and I have learnt about the symptoms as well. If I happen to see any dog suffering from it I will know where to report it now. Those who are not around will also get to know of it from me when they come,” says Mary Ajargo, a 20-year-old resident.

“We don’t pray for bad things to happen but all the dogs that have been taken to the farm will be well scrutinized when they are back and if any symptom is found, we will know where to report it,” says Baaba Ali, also a resident.

The exercise was supported by Multivet Ghana Limited, Reiss and Co Ghana Limited, Frankatson Limited, Tema Animal Hospital Limited, Drushba Veterinary Services, College of Health Sciences and the World Health Organisation among others.