MONROVIA – The plenary of the House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Health to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Health regarding the availability of rabies vaccines in Liberia.
This decision was prompted by a communication from Montserrado County District #5 Representative Prescilla Abram Copper. In her message to the plenary, Rep. Copper highlighted the increasing prevalence of dog bites and the associated risk of rabies transmission, which she described as a significant threat to public health and safety in Liberia. She expressed her deep concern and urged her colleagues to take immediate action by summoning the Minister of Health, Dr. Louise Kpoto, to address the urgent need for effective mechanisms to ensure access to rabies vaccines for all individuals in Liberia.
Rep. Copper emphasized that rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal, most commonly dogs. She pointed out that without timely access to rabies vaccines, individuals bitten by rabid animals are at high risk of developing the disease, which has a high fatality rate if untreated. She stressed the importance of the Ministry of Health taking proactive measures to ensure the availability of the rabies vaccine and promoting awareness about the necessity of seeking medical care following a dog bite.
Following the reading of her communication and a subsequent debate, the plenary decided to have its Committee on Health probe the Ministry of Health. Additionally, the plenary urged the ministry to establish a mechanism for the treatment or vaccination of all dogs, rather than solely focusing on prevention.
This move by the House of Representatives underscores the urgency of addressing public health concerns and ensuring that effective measures are in place to combat the threat of rabies in Liberia.
