Gabon moves forward

The Republic of Gabon is dedicated to enhancing its rabies prevention and control activities. In mid-February 2014 the government, in collaboration with FAO and others, hosted in its capital city Libreville a national workshop entitled “Rabies prevention and control: How to improve collaboration between key stakeholders?”. 

Gabon is one of the countries participating in the large-scale IDENTIFY project (financed by USAID) and also a member of the West and Central African RESOLAB sub-network on rabies.  In line with the capacity building component of IDENTIFY, the Gabonese central veterinary laboratory benefitted from a training by experts from the FAO collaborating centre on rabies in diagnostic laboratory techniques, the week preceding the workshop.  As Gabon had no rabies diagnostic capacity until then, it wished to establish laboratory-based confirmation of rabies. This is a major step in moving towards rabies prevention in this country, where rabies is suspected, but its presence is solely based on clinical suspicions in humans or animals, without any official notification to national or international authorities.

The availability of quality laboratory diagnosis is considered an essential pillar in rabies prevention and control. But it is no secret either that new opportunities, such as suddenly available laboratory capacity, can also trigger new challenges. How can we ensure that rabies-suspect samples will reach the laboratory and appropriate follow up action can be taken to protect people and animals from the identified threat of rabies? Which existing infrastructures, institutions and national fora can be built out or linked for collaboration to improve awareness and control of rabies? Which are the most effective joint-activities and communication channels between physicians, veterinarians and the affected communities in Gabon, be it at local or at central level? What is missing, and how can we bridge the gaps?

To find answers to questions like these, the workshop dedicated ample time to in-depth discussions, practical exercises and planning between the various actors around rabies control in Gabon. The workshop successfully teamed national representatives of the Ministries of Public Health, Agriculture, Education and Research, Social Affairs, further representatives of municipalities, private pharmacists and veterinarians, consumer protection associations, specialists in communication. Representatives of international organisations (FAO, WHO, UNICEF), as well as GARC, shared information and experiences from an international and regional point of view.

It was amazing to observe what can be achieved in only two days by bringing everybody together to one table. Some national activists even listened and spoke to each other for the first time! Supported by the international specialists, the participants could identify strengths and weaknesses of the current situation in Gabon. They worked together towards tangible objectives for the short and mid-term perspective of rabies control – with everybody on board this time.

All the participants left the workshop with an invigorated will and capacity to tackle rabies in Gabon. Once more an example of how enhancing collaboration between sectors and administrative levels, involving new partners and analysing existing and required capacity can make a difference. Certainly Gabon’s road forward is still bumpy, but the path towards sustainable rabies control has definitely been smoothened considerably. We congratulate Gabon and wish them a safe journey!

By Lea Knopf who participated in the workshop on behalf of GARC. There is a summary of the workshop (in French) available here