On 28 September 2021, government line ministries, department and agencies in Sierra Leone along with partners in the One Health Platform – the World Health Organization, FAO, USAID, Breakthrough Action – commemorated World Rabies Day to increase public awareness and promote the sharing of “Rabies facts and not fear’, being the theme for this year’s celebration.

The event kicked start the vaccination of 10,000 dogs and cats in the country by the Ministries of Health and Sanitation, and Agriculture.  Other activities to mark the commemoration included Radio and TV discussion programmes with key stakeholders to engage and sensitize the public about Rabies.

While making his statement in at the event, Dr. Steven Shongwe the WHO Representative in Sierra Leone highlighted the importance of the theme of this year’s commemoration, noting that much more information about Rabies needs to be filtered down to the community in order to dispel fatal misconceptions.

“A reduction in exposure to rabies is possible and achievable through a combination of interventions including vaccination of dogs, cats; regulated and responsible pet ownership, improved access to prophylaxis and increased surveillance interventions”, said Dr. Shongwe. He further commended the government for its continued efforts in strengthening the human and animal health through the One Health approach.

In December 2015, a Global framework to reach zero human rabies death by 2030 was launched by – FAO, WHO, The World Organization for Animal Health and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. This initiative marked the first common strategy against rabies, a devastating and largely neglected disease.

The WHO and its partners are working together to support countries to reach zero rabies deaths by 2030 with an evidenced based plan. The plan covers policy, human and animal health interventions, awareness raising and advocacy, capacity building and resource mobilization to ensure the elimination of rabies death.