The United Against Rabies collaboration builds skills and knowledge in rabies-endemic countries towards achievement of zero human rabies deaths

28 September 2018 | Geneva | Manhattan | Paris | Rome –– On the occasion of the 12th World Rabies Day, the United Against Rabies collaboration highlights the critical role that intersectoral collaboration must play if the world is to be rid of human rabies deaths by 2030.

The United Against Rabies collaboration, consisting of the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), has been taking action following the launch in June of Zero by 30: the global strategic plan to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. The plan provides a phased, all-inclusive, intersectoral approach to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. It leverages the work of the four aforementioned organizations to facilitate coordination across the institutions. Its aim is to offer an integrated response to country needs through empowering, engaging and enabling them to lead and strengthen elimination efforts. The approach limits duplication and improves efficiencies.

Highlights since the launch of the plan include:

• Assisting governments to design and prepare One Health strategic plans for rabies control and elimination, drawing upon available tools and guidelines developed by the United Against Rabies collaboration.
• Supporting Veterinary Services and Human Health Systems to comply with OIE international Standards and WHO guidance and International Health Regulations.
• Delivering high-quality dog rabies vaccines through the OIE rabies Vaccine Bank
• Developing capacity for laboratory diagnostic testing of rabies through training and organisation of proficiency testing.
• Holding the Second Full Pan-African Rabies Control Network meeting which united health and agriculture representatives from 24 African governments to share updates on the simplification of the human vaccination schedules and participate in workshops on surveillance and strategic planning for the disease.
• Initiating work with 29 countries to amplify the mobilization of financial resources, as well as in-country efforts to support the implementation of their rabies plans.

Investing now in rabies elimination will accelerate progress to make the 2030 goal a reality.

Contact:
WHO: Ashok Moloo, (+41) 079 540 5086, molooa@who.int
FAO: Adel Sarkozi, (+39) 06 570 52537, adelka.sarkozi@fao.org
OIE: Dr Catherine Bertrand-Ferrandis, (+33) 6 16 46 28 90, media@oie.int
GARC: Kim Doyle, (+44) 07453 099 399, media@rabiesalliance.org