By Chisomo Phiri
Mission Rabies has today launched its 12th annual dog vaccination campaign in Blantyre, with a target of vaccinating approximately 25,000 dogs in an effort to eliminate rabies and protect communities from the deadly disease.
Speaking during the launch of the campaign, the organization’s Regional Projects Director,Dr. Inga McDermott said the free vaccination exercise will run for 10 days over five weekends across the city.
“We are hoping this year to vaccinate around 25,000 dogs.The whole city will be covered, and anyone who wants their dog vaccinated for free can visit any of our 88 static vaccination points,” said McDermott.
She explained that the vaccination centers have been strategically placed within walking distance of most residents to ensure easy access.
McDermott said Mission Rabies has also been implementing a separate schools education programme aimed at teaching children about rabies prevention and dog safety.
“Last year alone, across the districts we support in Malawi, we educated more than two million children about rabies.
“We teach them how to stay safe around dogs, what life-saving first aid to administer if bitten, and how to help prevent this deadly disease,”she said.
McDermott emphasized that rabies remains a deadly disease with no cure once symptoms develop, making vaccination the most effective prevention method.
“The known way to prevent rabies is by vaccinating dogs, and that is exactly what we are here to do.We encourage everyone to bring their dogs for vaccination because it keeps families, children, and communities safe,” she said.
She also urged members of the public to support the campaign by spreading awareness in their communities.
“Our biggest challenge is getting everyone on board.We need the community to support us by informing friends, neighbors, and family members and by bringing their dogs for vaccination,” said McDermott.
She said currently,Mission Rabies is working alongside the Malawi Government, while the vaccines are being donated by MSD.
In addition to vaccinations,McDermott said the organization is also offering free dog sterilization and neutering services during each campaign weekend to help control the dog population responsibly.
“The rabies vaccine is safe for dogs of all ages, including puppies.At the same time, our clinic teams are offering free sterilization surgeries to help reduce uncontrolled breeding,” she explained.
She said locations for the sterilization services are also being advertised throughout the city.
Mission Rabies began operating in Malawi in 2015 in partnership with the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development(DAHLD) and with support from the Blantyre City Council(BCC).
The project was introduced after Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre recorded the highest number of pediatric rabies deaths in the country.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system of humans and animals.
It is mainly transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most commonly dogs.
Once symptoms appear such as fever, confusion, agitation, and difficulty swallowing ,the disease is almost always fatal.
Because of this, rabies is considered one of the deadliest infectious diseases, despite being entirely preventable.
Regional Projects Director Mission Rabies
