On September 26, 2026, the Association béninoise de la lutte contre la rage (ABL-Rage) and Rotary Club Cotonou Le Nautile joined forces at the Collège Martin Luther King de Mènontin to mark World Rabies Day. The event featured a free vaccination campaign for dogs and cats, as well as an awareness drive targeting students and teachers. This joint initiative is an annual occurrence, aiming to curb the spread of rabies in Benin.
As part of the event, the Rotary Club Cotonou Le Nautile donated 10 doses of human vaccine, 2 human serums for treating people bitten by rabid animals, and 100 doses of animal vaccine to ABL-Rage. The handover was followed by an educational session led by Professor Abdoul Rahmann Aguèmon, President of ABL-Rage. He explained the mechanism of the rabies virus, its incubation period, and the importance of preventive measures.
According to Professor Aguèmon, dogs, cats, and monkeys are primary vectors of rabies, which has a 100% fatality rate once symptoms appear. He emphasized that the only treatment for rabies is preventive and stressed the need for prompt action in case of animal bites. His recommendations included washing wounds with soap and water for 15 minutes and seeking immediate medical attention.
Norbert Vodjo ADOKPOSSOU, President of Rotary Club Cotonou Le Nautile, highlighted the club's commitment to eradicating rabies. He noted that the vaccination campaign was free, made possible by the club's purchase of vaccines, which were then provided to ABL-Rage. ADOKPOSSOU also observed that while some dog owners, particularly those with purebred dogs, vaccinate their pets, others with local breeds do not.
The campaign's location changes annually, with previous events held in Hévié, Calavi, and Fidjrossè. ADOKPOSSOU expressed the club's desire to expand the campaign to more locations, but cited limited resources as a constraint. Inès da-Costa, a local resident, attended the event to vaccinate her dog, citing concerns about the risk of rabies transmission.
da-Costa emphasized the importance of vaccinating domestic animals, which often interact with multiple people. She noted that dogs can easily escape, contract the virus, and transmit it to families. The event concluded with the successful vaccination of numerous animals brought by local residents.
Through this collaborative effort, ABL-Rage and Rotary Club Cotonou Le Nautile aim to raise awareness about rabies and promote preventive measures in Benin. By providing free vaccinations and educating the public, the organizations hope to make a significant impact in the fight against this deadly disease.
Key points
- The event featured a free vaccination campaign for dogs and cats, as well as an awareness drive targeting students and teachers.
- According to Professor Aguèmon, the only treatment for rabies is preventive and stressed the need for prompt action in case of animal bites.
- The campaign's location changes annually, with previous events held in Hévié, Calavi, and Fidjrossè.
