One District, One Rabies Desk: Call for urgent action as Ghana battles deadly dog-bite disease

A call has been made for Ghana to establish a One District, One Rabies Desk as part of urgent measures to prevent deaths from rabies following dog bites.

The call was made by Seth Afum A. Dankwah of J. G. Knol Technical Institute, Adukrom-Akuapem in the Eastern Region, in a detailed public health advocacy statement dated Saturday, October 3, 2026.

The appeal follows a viral video involving a young Ghanaian girl who reportedly struggled to breathe after being bitten by a dog, an incident which triggered concern and prayers from many Ghanaians.

According to Mr Dankwah, while the video generated public sympathy, it also highlighted a recurring public health problem that often goes unnoticed until it is too late.

He said children are frequently bitten by dogs, with the wounds sometimes healing and families forgetting about the incidents, only for symptoms of rabies to appear weeks or months later.

Rabies remains a deadly threat

Mr Dankwah described rabies as a “silent killer” and said Ghana is not doing enough to prevent infections.

He noted that stray dogs remain common in many Ghanaian communities, with large numbers roaming freely and relatively few receiving regular rabies vaccinations.

He questioned whether Ghana has an accurate estimate of its dog population and how many of the country’s dogs are vaccinated annually.

According to him, although the law requires dogs to be vaccinated and licensed annually, enforcement remains weak.

He said District Veterinary Officers are often too few and lack essential resources, including vehicles, cold-chain facilities and adequate supplies of vaccines.

Mr Dankwah warned that this creates a dangerous situation where unvaccinated dogs live close to children and other vulnerable members of communities.

He explained that rabies is caused by a virus carried in the saliva of infected animals, particularly dogs and cats.

Unlike diseases that primarily spread through the bloodstream, he said the rabies virus enters the nerves after an infected animal bites or scratches a person and gradually travels towards the brain.

The incubation period can vary significantly, meaning an infected person may appear healthy for weeks or even months after the bite.

Mr Dankwah said the wound may heal during that period, causing families to forget about the incident.

However, once the virus reaches the brain and symptoms begin to appear, the disease is almost invariably fatal.

He listed symptoms including painful spasms of the throat when attempting to swallow water, known as hydrophobia, extreme agitation, fear of air, confusion, sleeplessness, excessive saliva and restlessness.

He stressed that medical intervention must happen before symptoms develop, describing prevention and timely post-exposure treatment as the critical opportunity to save a person’s life.

Mr Dankwah also raised concern about cultural and spiritual interpretations of rabies symptoms.

He said when a person begins behaving strangely, becomes agitated or develops difficulty swallowing water months after a dog bite, families may forget the bite and attribute the behaviour to witchcraft, spiritual attacks or poisoning.

He cited expressions such as “Y’abɔ no dua”, meaning the person has been cursed, and “Wɔato no aduro”, referring to spiritual poisoning, as examples of beliefs that could delay medical attention.

According to him, families may first turn to prayer camps, herbalists or spiritual leaders, potentially losing critical days before seeking hospital care.

He therefore urged pastors, imams, herbalists, chiefs and community elders to ask a simple question whenever someone develops unexplained difficulty swallowing water or unusual behaviour:

He said a positive history should trigger an immediate referral to a health facility rather than treating the condition solely as a spiritual problem.

Mr Dankwah identified several environments where the risk of dog bites is particularly high.

He said children between the ages of 6 and 15 are particularly vulnerable, especially along school routes where stray dogs may roam.

He also noted that some children hide dog bites or scratches from their parents because they fear being punished.

Markets and food joints, he said, can attract groups of stray dogs because of discarded food.

He further warned about security dogs in compound houses that may roam into neighbouring properties when not properly restrained.

He also raised concerns about people who handle or butcher sick dogs without adequate protection, noting that infected saliva entering an open cut can create a risk.

Another concern, he said, is the practice of treating dog bites at home with substances such as herbs, toothpaste or a black stone before covering the wound.

Call for free mass dog vaccination

Mr Dankwah called on the government to introduce annual free mass dog vaccination campaigns, comparing the initiative to routine childhood immunisation programmes.

He proposed that authorities first provide vaccination free of charge and subsequently enforce existing regulations, including fines for owners whose dogs remain unvaccinated.

He said the approach would help increase vaccination coverage while also improving enforcement of responsible dog ownership.

He also called for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to be made readily available at district-level health facilities.

PEP is the preventive treatment given after a potentially rabies-exposing bite or scratch to prevent the virus from developing into rabies.

Mr Dankwah argued that PEP should be available in district hospitals and CHPS compounds, rather than being concentrated in major referral facilities.

He further called for the treatment to be provided free to children under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He said the financial burden of treatment can become a major obstacle for families, particularly those in rural communities.

One District, One Rabies Desk

At the centre of his proposal is the establishment of a One District, One Rabies Desk.

Under the proposal, every district would have a rapid-response team made up of a Disease Surveillance Officer, Veterinary Officer and Environmental Health Officer.

The team would respond when a dog bite is reported, trace the animal involved and quarantine it within 24 hours where necessary.

He said such a system would strengthen coordination between human health, veterinary and environmental authorities and enable suspected rabies exposures to be dealt with quickly.

Mass sterilisation and stray-dog management

Mr Dankwah also called for stronger management of Ghana’s stray-dog population.

He proposed mass sterilisation and vaccination programmes, beginning with pilot projects in major towns and cities.

According to him, controlling the stray-dog population alongside vaccination would reduce the risk of transmission and improve responsible animal management.

Rabies education in schools

He further proposed that rabies prevention and responsible dog ownership be incorporated into Ghana’s pre-tertiary education curriculum.

He said children should be taught how to respond immediately after a dog bite or scratch, including washing the affected area thoroughly with soap and running water and promptly informing a responsible adult.

He also encouraged parents to teach children about rabies prevention in their local languages.

He gave the Twi expression:

“Kraman ka wo a, hohoro na ka kyerɛ obi ntɛm!”

meaning, “If a dog bites you, wash and tell someone quickly.”

Mr Dankwah urged anyone who is bitten by a dog to immediately wash the wound with soap and plenty of running water for about 15 minutes, avoid applying herbs or other substances and seek medical attention the same day.

He urged dog owners to vaccinate their animals every year and prevent them from roaming freely.

Parents, he said, should educate children about what to do after a dog bite and encourage them to report even minor scratches.

He also appealed to pastors, imams, herbalists and traditional leaders to consider a history of dog bites before attributing symptoms such as difficulty swallowing water or unusual behaviour to spiritual causes.

Assembly members, he added, could contribute by working with District Veterinary Officers to organise rabies vaccination exercises within their electoral areas.

We cannot pray away rabies, but we can prevent it

Mr Dankwah said the key lesson from the viral video involving the young girl should not be limited to sympathy and prayers.

He argued that the incident should trigger stronger action to improve dog vaccination, access to PEP, public education and coordination between health and veterinary authorities.

He described rabies as 100% preventable but warned that once clinical symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal.

“The danger is not that dogs are many. The danger is that we don’t vaccinate yearly and we act too late in treatment,” he said.

He urged Ghanaian authorities and communities to treat rabies prevention as a national public health priority rather than waiting for another tragic dog-bite case to generate public attention.