CARE: projects for lasting change

The Communities Against Rabies Exposure (CARE) project is now underway in six locations – four in Asia and two in Africa.

Too many rabies prevention schemes offer only short-term protection. Dog vaccination and sterilization are part of the solution but if not integrated within a sustainable structure the disease re-emerges. We have seen this time and again.

CARE is different. It is designed to bring about lasting change by engaging and aligning municipal and government bodies, the global scientific community and, most importantly, local communities in rabies prevention.

Mass dog vaccinations and more

Eliminating rabies in dogs by vaccinating them removes the source of the disease (a dog bite is the source of transmission in 95% of human cases). But in addition to mass vaccinations, the CARE teams in Asia are working to establish sustainable diagnostic and disease surveillance systems to improve reporting of rabies –a notoriously underreported disease.

Training sessions held by GARC give local veterinarians and lab-technicians access to new techniques so they can assess the actual extent of the disease, the impact of the prevention measures, and track any outbreaks.

Better treatment for more people

In the Philippines, active collaboration between local government units, other partner agencies and GARC has led to greater capacity in local Animal Bite Treatment Centers making sure more people have better access to timely and adequate treatment.

“If only I’d known…”

To make sure people do know how to avoid rabies and what to do if exposed, we’re providing informational brochures, posters, and regular ‘caravans’ or ‘roadshows’ where, along with accessing written materials, people can come and ask questions.

Ilocos Norte is the latest Filipino province to bring rabies awareness into the classroom. In January 2014, the province implemented rabies prevention into the elementary school curriculum.

This far-reaching measure means that children between the ages of six and 12 will learn about rabies prevention at school this year and every year. These life saving messages are reinforced through modules in Science and Health, Filipino, English, Math, and Makabayan (Humanities). The teaching manual and materials were developed by GARC.

CARE and collaboration

The CARE model is of collaboration and cooperation across society. It is fantastic that the three Filipino projects alone have already attracted over 1000 local health workers and students as volunteers to help with the mass vaccinations.

We believe that lasting change is possible. GARC creates and facilitates sustainable programs that strengthen the existing veterinary and medical structures. These programs would not be successful without the commitment and dedication of the local authorities and the communities themselves.

The CARE Project is a three-year initiative facilitated by GARC with funding support from the UBS Optimus Foundation and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) also provided additional canine vaccine support in the project sites in the Philippines.

CARE project sites are Ilocos Norte, Sorsogon, and Marikina City and Cainta Municipality in the Philippines, Nias in Indonesia, N’djamena in Chad and Tanzania.

Summarized by Dane Medina, Communications Officer