As Nigerian society continues to chart innovative means of taking the fight against rabies to women and dwellers in rural and semi-urban communities, many organizations have joined the advocacy with unique messages and activities to pass community-friendly messages that would easily be understood and more acceptable.
One of such activities is the dynamic and innovative approach to public health education by the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAHPT), Ibadan for its 2024 Anti-Rabies Awareness Campaign which was a campaign that uniquely leveraged on sports as a convergence strategy to educate the public and promote vaccination days.
Under the inspirational and visionary leadership of Dr. Oladapo Agbato, the Director of Sports, who seamlessly combines his expertise in veterinary medicine and sports, the campaign kicked off with the event “Kick Out Rabies”.
The campaign, an initiative by Dr Agbato is basically to harness the power of sports to bring communities together, raise awareness about rabies and encourage the vaccination of pets. This is the first time in recent years that sports will be used as a convergence strategy for public health education in this part of the world, and the outcome is beautiful, and fulfilling with far-reaching impact.
The campaign was officially launched by Prof. Garba H. Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, who emphasised his ongoing efforts to battle zoonotic diseases and the relevance of such programs.
“The fight against zoonosis is critical to safeguarding national food security and public health. Initiatives like these, which combine education, community participation, and preventative measures, are critical to reducing the rabies threat,” he said while praising Dr. Agbato for his effort, as well as the institution and its provost, Dr. Owosibo, for taking such a bold step.
The three-day anti-rabies campaign in the Ibadan metropolis included sporting events aimed to engage the community and convey critical information about rabies prevention.
Dr. Olumide Okuneye addressed the teeming crowd on the need for vaccination. The campaign’s centrepiece was a free mass vaccination of Dogs on September 27th and 28th at the Akala Express axis in Ibadan. This annual event, hosted by FCAHPT, commemorates World Rabies Day and highlights the ongoing fight against rabies, a serious public health issue in Nigeria and beyond.
Dr Agbato, who is well-known for his work in raising awareness about food safety, antibiotic overuse, and antimicrobial resistance in the community and beyond, emphasised the necessity of utilising sports as a medium for health education. “Sports have a unique ability to bring people together and provide a platform for important messages.” By incorporating sports into our public health program, we can reach a larger audience and have a big influence on awareness and prevention,” he stated.
The FCAHPT, led by Dr Owosibo, continues to provide a good example in the battle against rabies, demonstrating the need for creative techniques and community engagement. The 2024 Anti-Rabies Awareness Campaign demonstrates the college’s dedication to public health and proactive initiatives for preventing zoonotic diseases.
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