Ahead of the commencement of a two-week mass rabies vaccination exercise across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has warned veterinary personnel against demanding or accepting payment from pet owners.
The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Dandam Karnak, gave the warning while addressing veterinary and animal health officials at the FCT Veterinary Clinic in Nyanya.
Karnak, who represented the ARDS Mandate Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Suleiman Ango, said the vaccination exercise was fully funded by the FCT Administration (FCTA) and would be provided free of charge to residents.
He charged the officers to uphold high standards of discipline and professionalism during the campaign, stressing that the success of the public health intervention depended largely on their conduct in the field.
Karnak commended the veterinary personnel for their commitment and assured them of the administration’s full support as they move across the six Area Councils to ensure that no community is left out of the exercise.
He warned that any officer found demanding or collecting money from pet owners for the vaccination would face disciplinary action.
According to him, the FCTA is bearing the full cost of the mass vaccination campaign as part of efforts to protect residents and animals against rabies.
The two-week exercise is expected to cover communities across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
