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Report: Our work for Members in WRD 2022
A report on the technical and financial support WOAH provided to six countries in the region for World Rabies Day 2022 is featured here:
World Rabies Day Report for 2022
Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths
Since 2007, every year on 28 September, World Rabies Day (WRD) is observed around the world to bring focus back on rabies – a neglected but deadly zoonotic disease. Although a 100% vaccine-preventable disease, rabies still kills tens of thousands of humans and animals, worldwide. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) has been actively involved in addressing this zoonotic disease by providing the latest scientific information related to the prevention and control of rabies in animals, and by implementing several activities in the Asia Pacific region.
The theme for the 16th WRD was “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths” and it called upon all stakeholders to take action using a One Health approach to address the disease. The theme also reiterated the global target of reducing dog-mediated human rabies cases to zero by the year 2030. We only have less than eight years to reach the global target.
to reach the global target of reducing dog-mediated human rabies cases to zero by the year 2030.
Support Members in enhancing awareness on rabies
As is done every year, the WOAH Regional Representation in Tokyo sent calls for applications for technical and financial support from WOAH for activities to undertake during the WRD. Based on proposals received, we provided financial and technical support to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to enhance awareness on rabies, primarily targeting school children and the general public. Besides awareness events and multisectoral advocacy meetings, a few Members implemented dog vaccination campaigns. WOAH sent a pre-recorded video on the rabies situation, and WOAH activities on rabies were played at Members’ advocacy events. Uploaded to this site are highlights of activities undertaken by our Members.
Lessons for school children on rabies awareness. (Ministry of Education and Sport, Lao PDR)
Web stories on successes and challenges of rabies control
WOAH collected and posted stories from our Members on their successes, challenges, and experiences in tackling rabies for the last two years in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Together with regional “tripartite” members FAO and WHO, we collected and shared stories on how countries used One Health (multisectoral) approaches to address rabies over the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic period. We encouraged our Members to share stories so we can further share with others via our webpage, spreading awareness. The collected stories are shared below.
Every year, we encourage our Members to organise events as much as possible, either physically or virtually, depending on the local COVID-19 situation and following appropriate protocols. Below we list a few of these events, which were open to all.
To support event organisation, we provided resources for Members, shown in links below. Some materials are also shown at the bottom of this page.
Countries are encouraged to share their World Rabies Day activities on social media using #EndRabiesNow, #WorldRabiesDay, #WRD2022, #rabies, and #ZeroBy30. Don’t forget to tag us at @WOAH and @WOAH_Asia
For more information, please contact us at [email protected]
Dog's Eye View - World Rabies Day
Infographic on rabies, available for download at bottom.
