World Rabies Day 2014:#TogetherAgainstRabies

Rabies and World Rabies Day

9/4/2014

Rabies: Did you know?

• Fatal viral disease mainly transmitted to humans through dog bites• 100% preventable by vaccination• An estimated 5 billion people at risk• 22 million people exposed annually• Around 70,000 die every year• Over half the victims are children • Every dog bite in canine rabies endemic countries must be considered a

risk of exposure, causing anxiety and expense.• Elimination of rabies in dogs would reduce the current number of human

rabies deaths by > 95%

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Why does rabies still cause deaths?• Continuous circulation of rabies in dogs

— 99% of rabies exposures are from dogs— Unvaccinated dogs— Roaming dog populations

• Lack of awareness on all levels about – Responsible pet ownership – vaccinating pets, especially dogs

– Need for post-exposure vaccines (PEP)

– Primary wound care

• Rabies vaccines not accessible– Greater cost of travel

– Increased risk of rabies onset

– Delays because of need to raise money

• Rabies is a forgotten disease of the poor— A disease where no one survives to tell the tale— Effectively controlled in the West & donors have turned their attention to other diseases

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Global burden of human canine rabies:Preliminary conclusions on regional

specificities & needsPer capita death ratesCourtesy K.Hampson & PRP 2013

Rabies – a Neglected Tropical Disease

Challenges:- Affects marginalized populations

- Affordability and accessibility of vaccines

- Responsibilities in cross-sectoral collaboration Animal source (dog), countries’ other disease priorities and donors’ priorities

Opportunities:- Model for a ‘One Health approach’

- Vaccine preventable (life saving)

- Rabies elimination as a global public good

- Education and community engagement

- Communication (WRD) and new technologies

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Some lessons learnedfrom a GARC perspective

• Rabies prevention is possible– Essential to support and encourage cross-sector

and cross-community partnerships– Public/private partnerships are critical – pooling

of resources • Many tools are already in place

– Vaccines, reduced regimens, dRIT, websites, etc.– Dog rabies vaccination, en masse

• Communities & governments – Both are necessary! Build on existing structures– Education and awareness about rabies are

crucial to communities and sustainability of programmes.

• Communication networks are powerful

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Rabies prevention and control requires intersectoral support

• Human• Animal• Education• Advocacy &

Communication • Financial• Legal• Volunteerism• NGOs• Politicians

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International efforts• WHO, OIE and FAO have all spoken in support of

working together within their tripartite alignment towards global elimination of canine rabies

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What is World Rabies Day?

WHAT: A day of declaration and action WHY: To raise global awareness about rabies

To promote education in local communities to control and prevent rabies

WHERE: As many countries as possible

WHEN: Annually on September 28

2014 THEME: #TogetherAgainstRabies

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GARC’s first initiative – raising awareness of a forgotten disease

World Rabies Day, launched in 2007– Engage the support of all international health organizations and all

stakeholders (FAO, OIE, WHO)– Inspire and support rabies activists to take action in their own

communities on WRD.– Establish a central website for information on WRD activities,

educational material, reports.– Provide basic ‘toolkits’ for conducting events– Garner media coverage of events.– Use WRD as a ‘reminder’ to get pets vaccinated.

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Global Impact of World Rabies Day

• Since September 2007…– Reached over 200 million people– Reached over 200 countries

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Children bringing pets to be vaccinated in Napak, Uganda during WRD 2010

Photo: Dr Inangolet Francis OlakiWRD parade in Indian village Photo: Dr Ashwath Narayana

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Who holds World Rabies Day events? Anyone who cares about ending rabies - organisers are people from all walks of life, including:

Physicians Veterinarians Teachers

Health workers Students Scientists

Municipalities Animal welfare NGOs Hospitals

Government departments Fundraisers Businesses

Clinics Volunteers Parents

Community leaders Public health NGOs And groups working together!

Campaigns and resources

World Rabies Day 2014

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Support for WRD events – 1/3

Comprehensive documents to support organizers are available on the GARC website at: http://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/publicizing-your-event/

• Organisers summary – everything you need to know in one place

• Ideas - examples of previous events to serve as inspiration to potential organizers.

• Key messages – how to tailor messages to the audience.

• Event planning – comprehensive guide on how to organize an event.

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Support for WRD events – 2/3

• Communications – how to involve the media and use social media for maximum impact.

• Modifiable press releases - press release templates, just add details of your own organization and event

• Background on rabies and World Rabies Day – supporting information on rabies and the history and impact of World Rabies Day

• Policy toolkit – how to approach policy makers to create change and tools available to support them.

• All available fromhttp://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/publicizing-your-event/

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Support for WRD events – 3/3

• Global One Health Challenge – a competition for veterinary and medical students to implement a World Rabies Day event

• Me and my dog – a GARC public awareness campaign around support for canine vaccinations that can be incorporated into existing World Rabies Day events, or even adopted as a World Rabies Day event. For example:– Set up a photo stall at a pet-friendly place and take photos of people

with their dogs while handing out information– Hold a national competition as part of the global Me and my dog

campaign and provide prizes for the best photo

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Resources

• Posters – to raise awareness of rabies prevention; to advertise events

• Leaflets – to raise awareness of rabies prevention• Teaching materials – age appropriate lesson plans and

worksheets in various target languages• Coloring pages - for younger children• Video links

All available fromhttp://rabiesalliance.org/resources/

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Global One Health Challenge

• For World Rabies Day 2014• Competition for medical students and veterinary students• To encourage intersectoral collaboration in rabies

prevention • Implementation of rabies prevention event in their

communities • Prize: Trip to Global One Health Conference (Spain) in 2015

for all team members• Partners: International Veterinary Students’ Association and

International Federation of Medical Students’ Associationshttp://rabiesalliance.org/what-we-do/world-rabies-day/global-one-health-challenge

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Me and my dog

Unifying activity for anyone, anywhere who wants to raise awareness and show their support of rabies prevention.Share a picture of you and your dog and share your story at

meandmydog.rabiesalliance.org

facebook.com/GlobalAllianceforRabiesControl

using #TogetherAgainstRabies

http://

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Tools

• Guides and tips to help you take action on World Rabies Day http://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/publicizing-your-event/

• Share your World Rabies Day event http://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/report-event/

• World Rabies Day logos in different languageshttp://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/logos/

• One Health Challenge

http://rabiesalliance.org/what-we-do/world-rabies-day/global-one-health-challenge

• Me and my doghttp://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day/together-against-rabies/

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Please spread the word

And tell:• Potential World Rabies Day organizers in your network about

the resources and support available• Educational establishments about the Global One Health

Challenge opportunity• Everyone about Me and my dog campaign - and take part

yourself!

Thank you!

9/4/2014

Keep in touch

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facebook.com/GlobalAllianceforRabiesControl

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