WRD in Madagascar

  This year, World Rabies Day was celebrated for the first time in Madagascar, with the focus on raising public awareness of rabies. The Institut Pasteur of Madagascar partnered with Sanofi Pasteur to hold a press conference headed by the secretary general of the Ministry of Health. Presentations on the current state of rabies management and anti-rabies treatment in Madagascar were given, a documentary film from Sanofi Pasteur was shown, and awareness sessions for journalists from TV, radio and print media were also held.

In addition, a new Pasteur Institute of Madagascar rabies treatment centre was opened in the District of Mandritsara. This area has around 50 dog bite cases per month, but is almost 1000km from the capital and previously the closest treatment centre was over 200km away. The new centre was opened on WRD, and technical training of the personel was carried out so that they now have current knowledge on rabies epidemiology, reporting procedures for rabies, the administration of rabies vaccines, how to establish a committee to fight against rabies, raise community awareness and what to do in the case of a rabies epidemic in the district.

Contributed by Dr Ramahefalalao Emilie Fara II of the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar