RABIES IN WEST AFRICA (RIWA)
WORLD RABIES DAY 2022 REPORT
INTRODUCTION
This year’s World Rabies Day Celebration was held from 23rd - 28th September 2022 at the La-Dade-Kotopon municipality. The theme for the event was “One Health, Zero Deaths”. The celebration was in collaboration with the Ghana Veterinary Medical Students Association, University of Ghana (GVMSA – UG) and the Greater Accra Veterinary Services Directorate. A 17-member committee was set up which comprised both the new and the old executive body of the GVMSA-UG, Mr Russell Coombs (RIWA Rep) and Mr Obed Neequaye Ashaley (VSD Rep), and was chaired by Miss. Akosua Kumi Nyarko.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
This year’s celebration focused on the vaccination of dogs and cats who missed out on the first vaccination program in April organized by Mr Ashaley and also to create awareness amongst members of the community through schools, churches and the media.
ACTIVITIES
School and Church Education Awareness programs were organized in addition to the vaccination program from Friday, 23rd September to Wednesday, 28th September. On Monday, 26th September, the heavy rains prevented us from having our scheduled event.
There were 5 main vaccination centres
Havana Park
La Police Station
Kakramudu
VSD
La Dadekotop)n Municipal Assembly
One other centre, adjacent to Latenu Radio was co-opted on the 23rd. By request, some vaccines were sent to La Veterinary Clinic to assist in the event celebrations.
The schools visited were:
GAKU Basic School - 23rd September
Justice Nii Amaa Ollenu Memorial Basic School - 23rd September
Emmanuel Good News School - 27th September
Precious Pearls Preparatory School - 27th September
There was no school education on 28th September.
The Churches visited on 25th September were
Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Nativity Congregation, La
Covenant Family Community Church
Flyers, posters and infographics were left at each school and church for the future education of members and students.
There were radio visits to Latenu Radio on 14th September 2022 by Mr Ashaley, Miss Kumi Nyarko and Mr Amoako, and Radio Univers on 28th September 2022 by Mr David Sarpong to create awareness and sensitization. A jingle was recorded and played in the community throughout the event by the Ghana Health Service Public Address System Van.
On 28th September, there was a TV talk show on Kantanka TV in which Kingsley Amoako and Akosua Kumi Nyarko represented the team.
FINANCES AND SPONSORSHIP
The Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) sponsored the celebration with 300 doses of vaccines. Mission Rabies also sponsored 800 doses of vaccines, but they were not retrieved and used due to the anticipated number of animals to be vaccinated.
Please find attached the income and expenditure for the celebration.
KPI
At the end of the World Rabies Day Celebration, these were the number of people spoken to and the number of animals vaccinated.
Venue Adults Children Total
GAKU Basic School 20 staff members 150 170
Justice Nii Amaa Ollenu Memorial Basic School 15 staff members 125 140
Emmanuel Good News School 15 staff members 75 90
Precious Pearls Preparatory School 6 staff members 40 46
La Nativity Presbyterian Church 25 teachers 200 225
Covenant Family Community Church 24 30 54
Total 105 620 725
Animals Vaccinated
Venue Dogs Cats Total
La Police Station 80 5 85
Kakramadu 30 15 45
Havana Park 9 0 9
VSD 32 8 40
La Vet 27 4 31
Latenu Radio 2 0 2
La Dadekotopon Assembly 0 0 0
Mr Ashaley 10 0 10
Total 190 32 222
RECOMMENDATIONS
World Rabies Day Celebration should involve schools and churches every year
The event should be planned early and sponsorship requested early
CONCLUSION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In conclusion, rabies is not a one-year celebration event. Let us maximize efforts to control and curb this disease.
We are grateful to the people of La Township who helped made the celebration a success. A special thanks to Mr Obed Neequaye Ashaley for his assistance and for getting us venues for each aspect of the program. We are also grateful to the students of University of Ghana School of Veterinary Medicine for availing themselves to help out make the program a success.
PHOTO GALLERY EDUCATION LA-ACCRA WRD
PHOTO GALLERY VACCINATIONS LA-ACCRA WRD
PHOTO GALLERY MEDIA COVERAGE LA-ACCRA WRD