GARC partners with Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in the fight against rabies

At the end of March 2016, GARC signed a memorandum of understanding with the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) in Germany. This MOU promotes the exploration of common interests and opportunities for collaboration as we strive towards the elimination of canine rabies.

FLI has been a member of GARC’s Partners for Rabies Prevention since its inception, and this agreement further strengthens the relationship. FLI staff has extensive experience in developing national and international surveillance systems for monitoring rabies and have been actively supporting their development in several canine rabies endemic countries. Their support in improving notification of rabies cases and transparency in data dissemination, in line with international standards, will be most valuable as global efforts step up towards canine rabies elimination. Rabies Experts from FLI have also been integrally involved in the German government / OIE collaborative project to support the implementation of a National Rabies Control Strategy in Namibia.

GARC and FLI will collaborate to encourage rabies endemic countries to develop and implement regional rabies control and elimination strategies, advocate for more involvement of Ministries of Agriculture and veterinary services in rabies control efforts, and for increased funding from donors to rabies control programmes.

Much of this joint work will be carried out with other partners through regional rabies expert networks such as PARACON, where countries are supported to apply the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination and the Rabies Blueprint to plan and implement rabies control activities. In particular, FLI will help in the refinement of the African rabies bulletin database, currently under development. At the global level FLI will help to promote World Rabies Day as a focal point for awareness on rabies, and support the End Rabies Now campaign to foster the political support to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

 

Contributed by Louise Taylor, GARC