CONTINUATION OF SUHUM RABIES PILOT PROJECT & WORLD RABIES DAY 2018
As a result of our successful launch of the RIWA pilot project in Suhum during the World Rabies Day, 2017 and the subsequent meetings to analyze the project and its results, it was decided to continue with the Suhum vaccinations and do the World Rabies Day Launch in a new Region to further expand our education, awareness and vaccination coverage.
The activities for Suhum will include the following:
Sensitization Traditional Rulers
As a general knowledge in African settings, the traditional rulers are highly respected in their communities and their commands are quickly responded to.
Therefore, formal visitations are being planned to meet with the Paramount Chief of Suhum and his sub-chiefs to sensitize them on the deadliness of rabies and solicit their support for the ongoing pilot project over the next three (3) years.
Suhum Municipal Assembly
We are now endeavoring to obtain more and sustained support from the Municipal Assembly and will use the Paramount Chief’s influence, as well as Health Services, to sensitize them fully on rabies and ensure that a budget is allocated to support our efforts in the education, control, prevention and eventual elimination of rabies in the municipality.
This sensitization includes all the Assemblypersons in all the districts and those Members of Parliament representing the municipality and districts in the Ghana Government.
Education in Schools
Educational materials will be distributed but we found that teachers do not really have enough knowledge in how to use the material and convey effective message to the school children. Thus, we do not only have to sensitize the children but also the teachers. Therefore, there is a need to at least organize one workshop to train school science coordinators so that they will go back and train other teachers on the use of the materials in schools.
Media and Promotion
We will work with the local FM station, Thank U FM who will do radio ads commencing 1 week prior and also during the week of the actual vaccinations announcing the locations and times.
In addition, a mobile announcement van will go around the municipality several days prior and every day during the vaccination period announcing the free vaccinations and the venues.
400 Posters will be printed and placed in all public buildings, markets etc., for awareness of rabies
5,000 flyer will be printed and distributed in all public places to include banks, post offices, markets , shops etc giving details about the free vaccinations and venues.
Large banners will be distributed and hung in prominent locations for additional awareness of the vaccinations.
Vaccination Campaign
It will be our objective to secure up to four thousands (4,000) vaccine doses for the World Rabies Day 2018 and to support the RIWA student groups. We will seek for sponsorship but will also budget internally for VSD’s support.
In order to vaccinate as many animals as possible it was decided to move the vaccination period to August 27 – September 1 as school children are on vacation and have a greater opportunity to bring their pets for the free vaccination.
Measuring the Immunity Level in Vaccinated Dogs
It is our intention to take a sample from dogs after a month of vaccination and test their levels of rabies antibodies titres.
This is to ensure that the work we are doing is effective and positive.
WORLD RABIES DAY 2018
SUHUM
The Suhum Municipal Assembly is being organized to celebrate the day with awareness and additional free vaccinations in the sub-districts of the municipality.
VOLTA REGION
To further expand our project to control rabies in Ghana, we will do the official launch of World Rabies Day in the village of Ehi, Keta North District in the Volta Region.
There will be a Launching ceremony in Ehi to be addressed by the Regional Minister, District Chief Executive, Veterinary Services Directorate, Ghana Health Services, RIWA, Director of Education, World Animal Protection, ANAW and many other animal welfare groups and government agencies.
All town inhabitants, school children will be invited.
Banners and posters will be hung and placed in prominent locations throughout the town and flyers distributed announcing the free vaccinations and venues in the town.
There will be 2 days of free vaccinations on Friday September 28 and Saturday September 29.
A prominent local Dr. S. Attatsi, an animal lover and founder of an animal welfare NGO called African Network on Animal Welfare ( ANAW ) has donated land and will construct a Veterinary Hospital complex to service the community as there is no such facility anywhere nearby. The complex will also have a large open compound for stray dogs.
In addition to the above, followup activities to World Rabies Day will include:
TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR PROFESSIONALS
It is apparent that medical professionals are inadequately prepared when it comes to the handling of dog bite cases and there is no coordination between the various partners in the event of handling dog bite cases.
During the launching of the pilot project, we had excellent support from the Ghana Health Services (GHS) in Suhum. However, it was evident that the majority of health workers at all levels have very minimal knowledge of rabies. Only a few knew exactly what is rabies and how to effectively handle a dog bite case. This was most evident after the recent death of a 5-year-old girl due to rabies and the suspected death of a 20-year-old man shortly after being bitten by a dog; both after our launch. The
On the veterinary side, many of the veterinarians and technicians look at rabies as a business and not public welfare, and themselves are not fully cognoscente of rabies. It appears we have a major problem in the country on how to handle a dog / animal bite cases.
To encourage and promote the One Health Concept we are planning a one (1) day workshop for all the medical professionals in Suhum. This will include the Veterinary Services personnel, private veterinarians, human medical doctors, nurses and veterinary technicians. All the parameters on how to treat/handle a dog bite will be among the topics of discussion and it will become a nationwide process for all to follow.
The workshop will host 200 persons over the one day period and will be facilitated by resource persons
DOG POPULATION MANAGEMENT
For an effective project management, we need to know the dog population in the project area. RIWA-GH will partner with Ghana Health Service to have their polio canvassers do the dog & cat census while going for their door-to-door polio vaccination.
REPORTING PROCEDURES
We will discuss with the FAO to develop a National Control Form, which will be used nationwide by all medical professionals for reporting dog bites and rabies cases.
FUNDRAISING AND RABIES AMBASSADOR FOR GHANA
We are endeavoring to encourage local corporates to support our efforts. It is our hope to organize a charity Football game involving celebrities, local government and school children.
In addition, we will approach a well-known Ghanaian celebrity to become the Ghana Rabies Ambassador. Having a celebrity will attract many more local sponsors and also attract more of the public to participate in our programs
PROJECT OBJECTIVES - ACTION
- Sensitize and Capacity build paramount and area chiefs as community champions and driver for the project by August 25, 2018.
- The direction and aspects of pilot program continuation
- Workshop for all science teachers by September 20, 2018
- Creation & printing of posters and flyers for distribution to schools by August 20, 2018
- Vaccines secured for the vaccination program by August 20, 2018
- Vaccination program for 4,000 pets Friday August 27-Saturday September 1
- Measuring the Dog immunity September 27-30, 2018
- Launch to celebrate World Rabies Day September 28, 2018
- Training Workshop for Professionals by September 20, 2018
- Dog bites reporting procedures and forms created, printed & distributed by September 24, 2018
- Dog population Management program initiated by September 28 & ongoing
- Fundraising is ongoing
- Appointment of Ghana Rabies Ambassador by September 15, 2018
PROJECT OUTPUTS AS A RESULT OF ACTION
- Functioning traditional community mobilization and community outreach system in place
- Science teachers knowledgeable on rabies and rabies control & prevention
- Educational materials distributed or awareness
- Expect to vaccinate a minimum of 4,000 pets, primarily dogs in 4 days & measure dog immunity
- All professionals, human and animal educated fully on rabies and rabies treatment protocol
- Proper reporting forms in hands of all medical facilities for monthly reporting
- Rabies Ambassador on speaking engagements & appearances
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/218112138869392/
TV ad Created In Local Language Twi: https://www.facebook.com/rabiesghana2030/videos/414066522356968/