Read in full: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2022/09/28/default-calendar/...
One person dies from rabies every nine minutes. Lack of access to reliable information on how to prevent the disease and what to do in case of dog bite is a major contributing factor. HIFA stands ready to share experience and expertise on how to increase public awareness and health education.
World Rabies Day 2022
28 September this year will mark the 16th World Rabies Day. This year’s theme ‘Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths’ will highlight the connection of the environment with both people and animals. By collaborating and joining forces, engaging communities and committing to sustain dog vaccination, rabies can be eliminated.
September 28th 2022 is the 16th World Rabies Day.
This year’s World Rabies Day theme is: “One Health, Zero Death”.
28 September this year will mark the 16th World Rabies Day. This year’s theme ‘Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths’ will highlight the connection of the environment with both people and animals...
Zero by 30: Global Strategic Plan for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 is an ambitious document with achievable targets. It is aligned with the new NTD road map that prioritizes integrated interventions and mainstreaming of NTD programmes within national health systems.
The integrated approaches advocated in both the Global Strategic Plan for rabies and the road map are relevant, as they show the importance of working together optimally and collaboratively in face of numerous challenges, as experienced during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
It is therefore critical to work with stakeholders, champions, and people at community, local, national, and global levels to rebuild and strengthen health systems and rabies control programs.
By collaborating and joining forces, enaging communities and committing to sustain dog vaccination, rabies can be eliminated.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ZERO BY 30: GLOBAL STRATEGIC PLAN
'As dog bites cause almost all human cases, we can prevent rabies deaths by increasing awareness, vaccinating dogs to prevent the disease at its source and administering life-saving treatment after people have been bitten.'
'People continue to die of rabies because it is neglected, because their awareness of the disease is limited, because the disease remains uncontrolled in dogs, and because they lack access to basic medical care, such as PEP, following an exposure.'
'Awareness of rabies disease engages communities and empowers people to save themselves by seeking the care they need. This includes an understanding of how to prevent rabies in animals, when to suspect rabies, and what to do in case of a bite.'
'Moving forward, we will focus on education and awareness campaigns that leverage national best practices into relevant, locally appropriate communication messages. We will provide tools, templates and guidance for countries to adapt for national campaigns and save lives by educating people at risk of rabies on the need to vaccinate dogs, when to suspect rabies in a dog or person and what to do in case of a bite.'
Best wishes, Neil
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Working in official relations with WHO
