Windhoek, Namibia
Namibia hosts international workshop on oral rabies vaccination (ORV) in dogs
November 06, 2025
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Community Engagement for Rabies Control in the NCA Namibia. Picture (c) T. Tenzin (woah) 2026
In a continued effort to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths in Namibia, the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has successfully conducted a rabies education and awareness campaign in Omuntele, Oniipa, and Olukonda constituencies within the Oshikoto Region from 03–14 March 2026.
A total of 129 traditional leaders from 100 villages attended this consultative meeting, which forms part of ongoing rabies education and sensitization among stakeholders in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA), where rabies remains endemic. A similar community engagement programme was conducted in 2024 and 2025 in the NCA.
Like in many African countries, in Namibia, traditional leaders are widely respected and hold significant authority within their communities, making them key partners in the rabies elimination drive. Therefore, this engagement was designed to sensitise them on rabies and strengthen prevention through their support for mass dog vaccination programmes, promotion of responsible pet ownership, enhancing rabies surveillance by reporting suspected rabies cases to veterinary authorities in a timely manner.
Community Engagement for Rabies Control in the NCA Namibia. Picture (c) T. Tenzin (woah) 2026
Breaking Myths and Empowering Communities
Through interactive discussions and educational sessions, participants were empowered with accurate knowledge about rabies prevention and treatment. The sessions emphasised:
Community Engagement for Rabies Control in the NCA Namibia. Picture (c) T. Tenzin (woah) 2026
Commitment from Community Leaders
During the meetings, traditional leaders demonstrated their commitment to supporting DVS efforts by:
Community Engagement for Rabies Control in the NCA Namibia. Picture (c) T. Tenzin (woah) 2026
Working hand-in-hand with traditional authorities and communities, Namibia is taking a significant step toward achieving the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. This campaign highlights the importance of community-driven action in breaking the rabies transmission cycle and reducing preventable human deaths.
This community engagement programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the “One Health Approach towards Control of Rabies and Transboundary Animal Diseases (OHRT)” Project implemented by World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
