By Memory Khutuliwa

Blantyre, May 11, Mana: Mission Rabies Malawi vaccinated 11,000 dogs in a period of dogs in its 43 static points in Blantyre, according to the organization’s Project Coordinator, Nelson Mundira 

He told Malawi News Agency (Mana) over the weekend that the dog vaccination was done in 43 points out of 87 static points in Blantyre.

Mundira said the exercise started on a good note since April 26, expressing hope that the number of vaccinated dogs will increase in three weeks.

“The sensitization teams reached several areas in the city where people understood the importance of dog vaccination. The teams told people about our vaccination static points before the vaccination,” he added.

Mission Rabies Malawi has been carrying out a series of dog vaccinations in Blantyre and other parts of Malawi, expressing optimism about reduced cases of rabies in dogs.

“Rabies surveillance team is working full time, following up with dog bite victims and continuing to investigate rabies in animals,” Mundira added.

The Mission Rabies Malawi Project Coordinator, therefore, appealed to dog owners to bring their pets forward for vaccination to avoid rabies.

A resident at Chemusa Township in Blantyre City, Chrissy Kamoto, said dog vaccination was an important means of preventing rabies, saying the Mission Rabies Malawi campaign was ideal.

“This is a commendable and timely intervention. We hear of people, especially children, dying from dog bites of suspected rabies.

“Dog vaccination will help to deal with such cases. It is my plea to dog owners to vaccinate their pets so that we can fight rabies in dogs,” she added.