By Robert Nayeja

Nsanje, June 20, Mana: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) under the banner of Mission Rabies plans to vaccinate over 25, 000 dogs and cats in Nsanje District in an attempt to reduce rabies.

Project Coordinator for Mission Rabies, Chrispin Njala disclosed on Thursday in Nsanje during a District Executive Committee meeting that rabies was killing people every year in the country and that there was need to step up efforts by reaching out to all districts in the country with rabies vaccine.

“We will vaccinate all the dogs and cats for free. What we want is to be given consent by the owner of these pets,” he said.

Njala said the organization has planned to vaccinate dogs and cats in Nsanje from 2024 up to 2030.

He added that the campaign which will be done in phases will have the first phase start from July 22 up to August 19,2024.

Chief Agricultural and Natural Resources Officer for Nsanje, James Lichapa thanked the organization for the timely support to complement government efforts in reducing rabies in the district.

He said the veterinary office in the district could not initiate the exercise due to shortage of funds.

“The vaccine is very expensive and we thank Mission Rabies for the planned exercise and we will give them all the support they need to implement this activity,” Lichapa added.

He said the district has over 25, 000 dogs and cats and appealed to communities to render full support to the exercise.

Mission Rabies has been providing rabies vaccine in various districts in the southern region including, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Balaka, Blantyre, Phalombe and Mulanje.