From left Dr. Tiony Misoi, Barnabas Korir, Dr. David Koech and Dr. Edward Wanasamba during the function held at Lisa training institute

The government should subsidize anti-rabies prophylaxis for the vaccination of dogs, cats and donkeys to reach all parts of Kenya, Rift valley provincial director of Veterinary services has said.

Dr. Edward Wanasamba lamented that vaccination exercise that was almost coming to an end in Nandi County could not reach other areas in the country. [Read: More than ten thousand animals to be vaccinated against rabies in Nandi County westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-4373.htm]

The director said that if the government would subsidize the vaccines, deaths from rabies would be curbed.

He said, “Deaths would continue escalating since the cost of the vaccines cannot be afforded by ordinary citizens.”

Dr. Wanasamba who called on the government to promote public and private partnerships on anti-rabies vaccination said that it was time that the government considers saving lives being lost through rabies.

He lauded the partnership between GOLAZO (media and entertainment organization) and LISA (leading In Society Aspirations) that saw the vaccination exercise successful in Nandi County and said that it was a model that the government should echo.

Nandi Central District Veterinary Officer (DVO) Dr. Benadatte Misoi Tiony said 15,000 dogs, 2,000 cats and 300 donkeys had been vaccinated in Nandi Central district alone at a cost of shilling 20 million.

She said that the exercise had come to a successful end in Nandi Central district as she thanked the residents of their cooperation and still called on the residents from other districts to cooperate with veterinary offices and have their animals vaccinated.

Dr. Misoi further said that it was wise for the animals to be vaccinated and owners issued with certificates since treatment of rabies and compensation of victims was expensive.

Present also during Sharon’s Anti-rabies Project meeting held at Lisa institute was GOLAZO organization director Mr. Barnabas Korir who said that he had future plans of ensuring that the programme covers the entire country.

The director further thanked the provincial administration for mobilizing the residents during the exercise in the county.

The vaccination exercise kicked off from last month January, 15 and was expected to have come to an end on February 6 but is still going on.