Efua Aiko Adade is a final-year student at the University of Ghana, pursuing a degree in Veterinary Medicine. Set to graduate in 2026, Efua is already making waves in the veterinary world. She currently serves as Ghana’s Rabies Ambassador, using her platform to raise awareness and educate communities about this preventable yet deadly disease through her non-profit organization, The Aiko Adade Foundation.
What Inspired Her Journey into Veterinary Medicine?
Efua shared that her passion for animals began at a young age. Growing up in a home with pets, she always felt a strong connection to animals. One day, while walking home from school, she found a severely neglected puppy abandoned by its mother, covered in maggots and barely alive. She tried to nurse it back to health behind her school by cleaning off the maggots, but sadly, the puppy died. That heartbreaking moment left a lasting impression. It was then she decided she wanted to work with animals—and after exploring her options, veterinary medicine stood out as the perfect fit.
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Field
When asked about challenges as a woman in a male-dominated profession, Efua had a positive perspective.
“I like to see being in a male-dominated field as an advantage rather than a disadvantage,” she said.
Efua believes there are many opportunities for women, and that more people today are willing to support and empower women in traditionally male roles. As the only woman in her team, she sees this as a strength.
“The team expects you to bring a certain value as a woman—and I embrace that.”
Why Rabies Advocacy?
Efua’s choice to focus on rabies began long before she took on a public role. She recalls a tragic incident at her church involving a young girl from a rural village. The girl had been bitten by a dog but didn’t tell anyone. Months later, she began showing symptoms of rabies, including hydrophobia (fear of water), one of the disease’s hallmark signs. Sadly, she passed away.
“That incident broke my heart. I realized we need to do a lot more to educate people about rabies and what to do when exposed.”
Rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms appear, yet entirely preventable through vaccination. Globally, the disease kills approximately 59,000 people annually, with 40% of victims being children under 15.
Progress of the Rabies Campaign in Ghana
Efua is encouraged by the progress of her campaign.
“The response has been beyond what I expected. Communities are welcoming us and eager to get their dogs vaccinated.”
She notes that while there is no exact data on Ghana’s dog population, current estimates suggest there are about 3 million dogs in the country. She believes including animal counts in the national census, spearheaded by the Ghana Statistical Service, could significantly aid rabies eradication efforts.
How Rabies Spreads and What to Look Out For
According to Efua, 99% of human rabies cases are transmitted through dogs, although the virus’s natural reservoir in the wild is believed to be bats. Transmission typically occurs through the bite or saliva of an infected animal.
Common symptoms in animals include:
- Sudden change in behavior (aggression or restlessness)
- Excessive drooling (salivation)
- Biting or snapping behavior
- In advanced cases: difficulty swallowing, paralysis, and death
In humans, the hallmark sign is hydrophobia, or fear of water, due to painful throat spasms. Other symptoms include fever, confusion, hallucinations, and paralysis.
“Dogs should be vaccinated once a year, starting from three months of age,” Efua emphasized.
Once an animal is infected and symptoms develop, there is no cure, and the animal must be euthanized to prevent further spread.
Looking Ahead
Efua is aligning her advocacy with the World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating rabies deaths by 2030. Through education, vaccination, and community engagement, she believes Ghana—and Africa at large—can reach that goal.
