02 October 2020
The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development has launched the Rabies Vaccination and Awareness Campaign in Kimberly. The Campaign is aimed at vaccinating more than 10 000 dogs in the whole Province. The World Rabies Day is being celebrated every year in September, with the main highlight marked on the 28th of the same month. As a Province, we have developed a long week program reaching out to our communities.
The Northern Cape has marked the Rabies Awareness and Vaccination Campaign under the theme: “End Rabies: Collaborate, Vaccinate”. As a Province, we will be rolling out the campaign every quarter in every districts.
This year’s theme calls on all stakeholders to join hands and collaborate in the effort to eliminate dog –mediated human rabies by the year 2030.
Rabies is caused by a virus which is shared in the saliva of an animal and is spread through bites of an infected animal. It is a fatal disease causing the death of around 59 000 people per year worldwide.
In the Province, people are mostly infected through the bites of infected dogs, cats and other infected wild animals.To-date, about 23 rabies cases have been reported in Kimberley, Springbok, Upington, and De Aar- with Port Nolloth having the highest cases of dog bites in the Province.
Approximately 14 829 vaccinations have been done on dogs (12 309), cats (1755), cattle (6), Meerkats (2) in the Province.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made it very difficult for the Department to hold rabies vaccination campaigns this year. However, through its various state veterinary offices across the Province, the department has embarked on an elaborative programme to raise awareness on the devastating effects of rabies.
On Thursday, the MEC visited the Kimberley SPCA and donated vaccine for dogs and cats. She further donated vaccine at the Kimberley Veterinary Clinic, Vets 4 All and the Belgravia Veterinary Clinic. The above mentioned Clinics will vaccinate animals for free, in celebration of the Rabies month.
Furthermore, on the 9th of October, the Rabies vaccination of pets will take place at the Mayibuye Center in Galeshewe, starting from 8h00. A register of people will be kept and no person will be allowed entry without a mask. On the day, about 3 to 4 vaccination sites will be created and health and safety protocols such as social distancing and sanitization will be observed.
As a department we will engage all District Municipalities and different stakeholders towards establishment of Veterinary Clinics and facilities to keep pets against cruelty of animals.
We call on Pet Owners to visit their nearest Veterinary State offices across the Provinces for a free vaccination.
It is our belief that collaboration between various stakeholders at national and local level, will help us to fight the disease, and together we will make great strides in reducing and eventually eradicating human deaths due to rabies.
For more information, visit or call the number below state veterinary offices across the Province
CONTACT DETAILS
1.HEAD OFFICE 5 - 7 Elliot Street, Kimberley 8300 Telephone: 053 839 7870
2.STATE VETERINARY OFFICES
Calvinia State Veterinary Office Akkerdam Weg, Calvinia, 8190 Telephone: 027 341 1045 Telephone 2: 087 630 0346
De Aar State Veterinary Office Corner Jenny & Rossouw 48 Street, De Aar, 7000 Telephone: 053 631 2592 Telephone 2: 087 630 0356
Kimberley State Veterinary Office Old Mint Building, De Beers, Kimberley, 8300 Telephone: 087 630 0351
Kuruman State Veterinary Office Tsening Road (Next to Labour Department), Kuruman 8460 Telephone: 053 712 1030 Telephone 2: 087 630 0354
Mothibistad State Veterinary Office 6236 Kgosi Mothibi Road, Mothibistad, 8474 Telephone: 053 773 1981 Telephone 2: 087 630 0302
Springbok State Veterinary Office 49 Van Riebeeck Street, Springbok, 8240 Telephone: 027 712 1311 Telephone 2: 087 630 0329
Upington State Veterinary Office Karakoel Research Farm, Airport Road, Upington, 8800 Telephone: 054 332 1531 Telephone 2: 087 630 0304
3.VETERINARY LABORATORY SERVICES Kimberley Veterinary Laboratory Corner Hall & Lanyon Street, Kimberley, 8300 Telephone: 053 832 4346 Telephone 2: 087 630 0349