Description

The 2024 United Against Rabies Forum Stakeholder Meeting was held as a hybrid event, with in-person participation taking place 23 – 25 September 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.

This meeting was made possible with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Dogs Trust Worldwide, and took place immediately following the 8th World One Health Congress, reflecting our collective commitment to combat rabies through a One Health approach.

This meeting provided the opportunity to review the achievements and outputs of the United Against Rabies Forum in 2024, exchange insights and strategize further actions in our progress towards our ‘Zero by 30’ goal.

We would love your feedback on the United Against Rabies Forum! Please find below the link to access our 2024 United Against Rabies Review – you can provide feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of this network, recommend changes that should be made, provide feedback on specific tools and resources, and recommend activities that the United Against Rabies Forum should focus on in 2025.

Agenda

Welcome and opening remarks

2024 Priorities and Achievements: Professor Lucille Blumberg (National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa) and Dr Rachel Tidman (World Organisation for Animal Health).

Setting the Scene – Rabies in South Africa: Dr Kevin Le Roux (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa).

Session 1: Engaging priority rabies-endemic countries and supporting the development of National Strategic Plans

Strengthening Rabies Control in Malawi: Rabies Strategic Plan: Dr Joseph Nkhoma (Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi)

Implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies in Tanzania: Dr Samwel Mngumi (Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Tanzania)

Roadmap for Rabies Elimination from Africa: Dr James Wabacha (African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources)

Session 2: Engaging local authorities and communities to prioritise rabies elimination at the local level

Moderated by Dr Kavosa Mudoga (Action for Protection of Animals Africa)

World Rabies Day 2024: Breaking Rabies Boundaries: Dr Andre Coetzer (Global Alliance for Rabies Control)

Engaging communities, local authorities, and private sector actors to prioritize rabies elimination at the local level: Ms Naomi Ngaruiya and Mr Biwott Hazael (Kenya Red Cross)

Fighting rabies in schools and communities: Dr Ida-Marie Ameda (UNICEF)

Session 3: Promoting improved surveillance, data sharing and data reporting

International Reporting of Rabies Data: Dr Katie Corridan (World Health Organization)

Demystifying Data Tools for rabies data collection and programme planning: Dr Frederic Lohr (International Rabies Taskforce/Mission Rabies)

Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Human Rabies in Kenya 2014-2030: Dr Kanana Kimonye (National Public Health Institute, Kenya)

Strengthening rabies surveillance at the local scale – Where are we at? Dr Katherine Worlsley-Tonks (Institut Pasteur)

Session 4: Supporting advocacy and resource mobilisation for rabies control

This session included a presentation from Dr Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho (Uniting to Combat NTDs), and a panel discussion with Dr Isabelle Dieuzy-Labaye (GALVMed), Dr Laure Weber-Vintzel (The World Bank), Dr Mark Schipp (World Veterinary Association) and Dr Albertina Shilongo (Namibia) on the importance of supporting advocacy and resource mobilisation for rabies control.

Session 5: Facilitating access to human PEP, including supporting the implementation of Gavi’s strategy on rabies

Recommendations and New Gavi Support: Dr Bernadette Abela (World Health Organization)

Gavi Rabies PEP vaccine programme: Dr Simbarashe Mabaya (Gavi The Vaccine Alliance)

Challenges and Successes of Rabies PEP: Notes from an LMIC: Dr Naseem Salahuddin (Indus Hospital and Health Network, Pakistan)

Planning for 2025 Priorities

Planning for 2025 Priorities: Dr Rachel Tidman (World Organisation for Animal Health)

Contact

Contact globalrabiescoordinator@woah.org for any further information on this event.