Kenya's Rabies Webinar 2023: FAO Backs Dialogue to End Human Rabies from Dogs
The Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) has officially launched this year's World Rabies Day (WRD) with the theme "Rabies: All for 1, One Health for All." This theme underscores the importance of equality and the need to strengthen overall health systems, ensuring that the concept of One Health is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.
In Kenya, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) and the Kenya Veterinary Association, has taken proactive steps to commemorate this year's WRD. Together, they have organized mass dog vaccination campaigns, sensitization and awareness initiatives, and facilitated the exchange of experiences, best practices, and challenges in the realm of rabies control through an engaging webinar series: the National Rabies Webinar 2023.
The National Rabies Webinar 2023 is a vital series of discussions in FAO's fight against rabies. The opening session, led by Dr. Bernadette Abela, Team Leader of the Neglected Zoonotic Diseases from the World Health Organization (WHO) and moderated by Dr. Mwatondo Athman, Medical Epidemiologist, from the Zoonotic Diseases Unit, focused on the ambitious goal of eliminating human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
This series, that took place from 20 to 28 September, covered a spectrum of critical topics, including Zero by 30: the global plan to end human deaths by 2030, Rabies prevention, Human rabies, Rabies mass vaccination campaigns, Private Sector Role in Dog Population Management, Private sector role in rabies control, Resource mobilization and Rabies elimination strategy status.
The collaboration between FAO, Kenya Veterinary Association and the ZDU in Kenya exemplifies a vital partnership aimed at strengthening One Health preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases in the region. The Quadripartite initiative involving FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the recognition that the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems is interconnected and necessitates a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach. This collaborative effort is outlined in the Joint Plan of Action for One Health (2022-2026), emphasizing the significance of unified action in addressing these complex challenges.
This collaborative effort is a significant milestone in the fight against dog-mediated rabies. Experts, stakeholders, and the public are uniting forces to achieve the common goal of a rabies-free future in Kenya.
Information Resources
For further information, please contact:
Joseph Othieno
National Communications Specialist
FAO Kenya
Email: [email protected]
Yanira Santana
Emergency Reporting and Outreach
FAO ECTAD Africa
Email : [email protected]