Every year the world celebrates Rabies Day on 28th September, this global health observance started in 2007 to raise awareness about the world’s deadliest infectious disease and bring together partners to enhance prevention and control efforts worldwide.
While rabies is a 100% preventable disease, nearly 60,000 people die from the disease around the world each year. World Rabies Day is an opportunity to reflect on our efforts to control this deadly disease and remind ourselves that the fight against rabies is not yet over. Major health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working together to eliminate rabies deaths in people that are caused by dogs by 2030. World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working together toward a goal to “eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030”.
The Uganda Veterinary Association together with various partners such as Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Drug Authority, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Minstry of Health, Minstry of Water and Environment, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations Uganda, Red Cross Uganda, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Veterinaires Sans Frontiers Germany, United States Agency For International Development, World Organisation for Animal Health and Global Alliance for Rabies Control have organized this year’s World Rabies Day celebrations in Tororo district under the theme ”Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths”. Tororo district is located in eastern part of Uganda, it is one of the known hotspots for rabies. In a bid to reduce the incidence of rabies, various activities have been organized various activities have been organized under a multi-sectoral approach ahead of World Rabies Day celebrations from 21.09.2022 to 28.09.2022 including the following.
1) Community radio and television talkshows about the Rabies particularly focusing mode of transmission, prevention and efforts to eradicate using a one health approach both in Tororo district and across the country
2) Mass rabies vaccination of both humans and pets (dogs and cats)