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Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria

Authors: OLUGASA Olubukola , Opeyemi Olugasa, Rotimi Odutayo, Babasola O. Olugasa

Publication Type: Journal article

Journal: Journal Of The Society For Epizootiology In West Africa

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Abstract

One common culture between Europe, North America and Africa is their friendliness with dogs, the hosts of rabies. Rabies is a disease of neglected communities that is responsible for an estimated annual death of 55,000 humans in developing countries of Africa and Asia. Rabies is endemic in Nigeria among the reservoir host; the domestic dog Canis familiaris and human exposures are very common. Though rabies is almost 100?tal, it is also 100% preventable and the most cost-effective means of preventing the disease in humans is to control the disease in dogs. Rabies has also termed a neglected disease probably because it is not receiving commensurate attention from citizens and governments in developing countries. We conducted a search of dog bite injury and rabies related law suits at the Nigerian Courts since independence in 1960. The Nigerian Law Pavilion, an electronic law suit database of Nigeria was reviewed and comprised over 15,000 number of reported cases, of which commercial, criminal and electoral disputes rank 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Cases related to dog bite injury and suspected rabies exposure were nil or not captured in the records of proceedings of the Courts. Survey of dog-bite victims’ about justice seeking behaviour towards offending dogs and dog owners was conducted community by community, at primary health care centres and tertiary hospitals in South-West Nigeria. A significant number (93%) would not consider a court case among rural communities. Some 20% of respondents in cities would not mind court litigation, but worried about the cost implications, the integrity and promptness of the justice system in the country. In order to engage a change in this neglected situation, we design and describe a framework for competent citizen group Rabies in West Africa (RIWA) for evaluation of dog bite circumstances, establishing basis for rabies exposure, computing associated financial cost implications for post-exposure treatment, seeking court intervention on a suspected rabies exposure from domestic dogs, and the role of a union for RIWA in administrative and regulatory control of dogs in West Africa. Using the Nigerian legislative structure, this article discusses the role of the court and the legislature in enabling a sustainable control and prevention of human deaths associated with rabies in Nigeria.

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OLUGASA,O. Opeyemi,O.O Rotimi,A.O Babasola,O.O . (0000). Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria, 12 (), 43-43.

OLUGASA,O. Opeyemi,O.O Rotimi,A.O Babasola,O.O . "Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria" 12, no (), (0000): 43-43.

OLUGASA,O. and Opeyemi,O.O and Rotimi,A.O and Babasola,O.O and . (0000). Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria, 12 (), pp43-43.

OLUGASAO, OpeyemiOO, RotimiAO, BabasolaOO, . Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria. 0000, 12 ():43-43.

OLUGASA,Olubukola , Opeyemi,O. Olugasa, Rotimi,A. Odutayo, and Babasola,O. Olugasa . "Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria", 12 . (0000) : 43-43.

O.Olubukola O.O. Olugasa R.A. Odutayo & B.O. Olugasa , "Role of the court versus a Union for Rabies in West Africa in the administrative and legislative control of dogs in Nigeria" vol.12, no., pp. 43-43, 0000.

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