Editorial: World Rabies Day is special every year

There are days for many of us working in the field of rabies prevention, trying to save the lives of people and animals from this deadly disease, when it feels like a never-ending battle.  This fight is made even more frustrating when we all know that the tools and knowledge exist to end these deaths once and for all. If only we had more funds, more political commitment, more interest, we could win this battle.

And of course, when World Rabies Day comes around yet again, it may seem like a reminder that we haven’t beaten rabies yet. 

But the wonderful reality is that we are so close to this goal – over the years this newsletter has showcased many inspirational stories of communities, countries, regions, and global agencies taking action and saving lives. And World Rabies Day is the perfect time to celebrate these successes and encourage others to become part of the movement to eliminate the world’s deadliest disease.

This World Rabies Day, we’d encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve all come – with African and Asian governments have welcomed the Rabies Blueprint’s Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE) that wil help them take concrete steps towards rabies elimination, training of community educators in countries as far apart as Cambodia and Haiti, a global meeting on rabies organised in December by the FAO, OIE, WHO and GARC – and, of course, all the successful intersectoral projects we’ve seen in Asia and Africa.

All of this has only been possible because of the untiring efforts of everyone contributing across the world in so many different ways – research, education, awareness, human and animal vaccination, advocacy, and funding.  Please share all your wonderful work this World Rabies Day by registering an event. It’s the best way of adding your voice to the call for more funds, more political commitment, more interest. We’re getting there. Let’s End Rabies Together!

The World Rabies Day team at GARC