Osun Vets Urge Pet Licensing on World Rabies Day to Tackle Disease Spread
The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Osun State chapter, has raised concern over the lack of proper data on pets in the country, saying this gap makes it hard to plan and manage animal healthcare effectively. The call came during a symposium held at the ACEGID Facility, Redeemer’s University, Ede, as part of activities marking this year’s World Rabies Day.
Speaking at the event, the Osun NVMA Chairman, Dr. Oluseyi Kolawole, urged the government to implement policies that would make pet data collection and registration possible. He stressed that Nigeria already has policies in place, but they need to be fully enforced to ensure that pet owners understand their responsibilities. According to him, registering pets with veterinary clinics would make prevention easier, safer, and cheaper than treating diseases after they occur.
The Director of Veterinary Services at the Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Abosede Olatokun, also highlighted the importance of introducing animal licensing. She explained that giving each dog and other pets a license would help improve disease monitoring and control. She expressed hope that the government would adopt the policy, which would also reduce the risks of rabies spreading in communities.
This year’s World Rabies Day theme, “Act now, you, me and community,” was discussed at the symposium, with Kolawole describing rabies as the deadliest disease worldwide. He cited statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showing that someone dies from rabies every nine minutes. He also noted that awareness about the disease remains very low, even among well-educated people, making community action urgent.
Kolawole further stressed that protecting animal health automatically protects human health. He explained that when pet owners vaccinate their dogs and other animals, they reduce the risk of rabies transmission to humans. He therefore encouraged Nigerians to carry the awareness into their homes, schools, and worship centres, while also discouraging the presence of unvaccinated stray dogs in communities.
World Rabies Day, marked every September 28, is a global awareness campaign organised by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. It aims to educate communities on the dangers of rabies, promote prevention through vaccination, and push for stronger policies to control the disease. The campaign is supported by top global health organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The event in Osun State was described as timely and significant, as it reminded both government and citizens of the need for urgent action. By promoting animal licensing and stronger data collection, the NVMA believes Nigeria can reduce rabies cases and safeguard both pets and humans.
