Dogs, cats vaccinated against rabies at Epukiro

The N/a’an ku sê Clinic, a subsidiary of the N/a’an ku sê Foundation, conducted a vaccination campaign against rabies in the Omaheke region, in the Epukiro constituency, on Saturday.

Sixty-five dogs and 11 cats from Epukiro Post 3 and surrounding plots were vaccinated at no cost during the one-day campaign.

N/a’an ku sê Clinic manager Theo Tjiseseta says these vaccination campaigns are a routine exercise aimed at preventing the spread of rabies among humans, dogs and cats in the settlement.

“We are aware of the roaming wild dogs, jackals and kudus that are mostly the carriers of rabies in the area. The main purpose is to prevent rabies rather than waiting for it to host in the area,” he says.

Rabies causes brain inflammation and can be transmitted from animals to humans through bites and scratches.

Tjiseseta says without treatment rabies can be fatal, but it is treatable if a person who has been exposed to rabies seeks immediate medical attention.

N/a’an ku sê founder and executive director Marlice van Vuuren conducted the vaccination campaign along with Dr Maaike de Schepper and Dr Lyndsay Scott, the clinic’s veterinarians.

They are also planning to conduct a rabies vaccination campaign across the entire Epukiro constituency around September this year. A similar initiative was carried out at Okatuuo village late last year.

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