Using the One Health Approach towards eradicating Rabies.
FAO unites forces to end human rabies deaths by 2030 in Ghana
28 September 2020, Lawra - Since 2016, countries in the West and Central Africa region including Ghana, have increased their collective efforts to campaign against rabies through the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization/Global Health Security Agenda (GSHA) programme with support from the United States Agency for International Development. This success has been achieved mainly through the development of national action plans, and implementation of effective national strategies and programmes that focus on coordinated dog vaccination campaigns, raising public awareness, and provision of high-value equipment, reagents and consumables to the national laboratories.
On the occasion of the 14th World Rabies Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has reassured its commitment to the implementation of Global Framework for the Elimination of Dog-mediated Human Rabies. The framework was prepared by the Tripartite (FAO-OIE-WHO) and Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).
The Member of Parliament(MP) for the Lawra Constituency, Anthony Abeyifaa Karbo who represented the Regional Minister at the 2020 World Rabies Day celebration reassured government’s commitment to improving animal health service delivery across the country.
The MP said this commitment has been demonstrated through the signing of an agreement by the government to eliminate rabies by 2030. The signing of this document by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Health means that the government will provide the needed political will to vigorously fight and end rabies by the said deadline.
Ahmed Garba, the Country Team Leader for the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Ghana, said, the FAO is and will continue to work collaboratively with all Development Partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards the global goal of eliminating rabies by 2030.
World Rabies Day theme
The theme for this year is ”End Rabies, Collaborate, Vaccinate.” It is a clarion call to Development Partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies that we have 10 years remaining to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies. It also calls for multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary action of all stakeholders to collaborate at international, national and local levels to eliminate rabies, and advocates for ensuring that we vaccinate dogs to prevent rabies.
The tripartite (FAO, WHO and OIE) and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control have developed Global Framework for the Elimination of Dog-mediated Human Rabies, to reach zero human deaths by 2030. This plan covers policy, human and animal interventions, awareness-raising and advocacy, capacity building, and the respective resources needed for elimination of the disease in countries still suffering from rabies.
Celebration of 2020 World Rabies Day in Lawra, Upper West Region in Ghana
The celebration of the 2020 World Rabies Day in Lawra brought together people from all walks of life and sectors including experts from health, agriculture, environment and National Disaster Management Organization from across the country ensuring the One Health Approach is in spirit. Traditional Authorities and school children also graced the occasion.