Fragmented, ad hoc rabies control programs relying on sporadic dog vaccinations around the World Rabies Day are fundamentally unsustainable and fail to protect vulnerable communities (women and children who love their pets). Decisive scientific advancements have revolutionized the control approach, yielding shortened, cost-effective Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) regimens and proving that mass dog vaccination offers an exceptionally high return on investment.
Yet, despite these proven tools, policy hesitation continues to stall regional elimination frameworks, such as the African Union-IBAR’s PASERA strategy. To bridge this implementation gap, initiatives like Afrique One are empowering practitioners and communities to assume direct ownership of Rabies control, transforming rabies prevention from an administrative burden into a shared public good.
Sustainable rabies elimination requires moving beyond trial initiatives to institutionalized, multisectoral investment. It is time for policy to match the science and to commit predictable financing, integrate mass dog vaccination into routine veterinary services and PEP in the Expanded Immunization program across the continent.
Bassirou Bonfoh, Director of Afrique One
