To mark this year’s World Rabies Day, CIC Ghana, under its Stop Rabies Campaign, has responded to persistent reports of dog bites affecting schoolchildren in the Agbogba community near Haatso in Accra.
Agbogba is a densely populated, indigenous community in the Ga East Municipality of Accra with a significant population of roaming, largely unvaccinated dogs.
This creates a constant risk, particularly for children under 15 years who, due to frequent interactions with dogs such as feeding, playing and handling them, often fall victim. A lack of awareness regarding safe interaction, bite prevention and appropriate post-bite response places them at high risk of rabies.
This targeted health education event was held in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service/School Health Education Programme (SHEP) and the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) on Wednesday, September 28.
The programme directly addressed a critical public health gap by empowering 183 learners, 18 teachers, and other members of the school community with life-saving knowledge on dog bite prevention and post-exposure response.
Message
A critical message presented to the learners was: "Wash the wound immediately with soap under running water for 15 minutes.
Tell a parent, a teacher, or any responsible adult. Seek medical attention without delay."
The school’s leadership pledged its commitment to the sustainability of this vital educational effort.
The Assistant Head teacher, Ignatius Asare Adampa, expressed his appreciation for the initiative and pledged to facilitate continuous education for the schoolchildren, teachers, and parents.
The Executive Director of CIC Ghana, Emmanuel Fiagbey, in his remarks, charged the children to become ambassadors of the rabies prevention message, saying, "You have been empowered with life-saving knowledge, and you must now share it with your families, your friends and everyone in your community," he stressed.
Mr Fiagbey further urged the school’s administration to formally integrate rabies prevention education into the school health education programme, working hand-in-hand with local veterinary officers and other partners to ensure the message endures so that no child remains at risk of dog bites and rabies.
As part of the campaign, veterinary technicians from the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) also vaccinated several dogs and cats in homes near the school.
