Regional Training Workshop on Strengthening Capacity for Rabies Control in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

• To strengthen country and regional capacity in implementing and scaling up a high quality and comprehensive mass dog vaccination (MDV) programme to control dog-mediated rabies;
• To build capacity for the use of digital tools and mobile technology to track, monitor and evaluate MDV campaigns;
• To improve capacity to estimate dog population for planning MDV campaign and post vaccination monitoring;
• To improve knowledge and awareness on the use of Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) of dogs and their field application as a complement to parenteral vaccination in free-roaming dogs;
• To strengthen country capacity of animal rabies surveillance to support control of dog-mediated rabies and improve data quality, reporting, and data sharing using digital tools;

• To promote a sustainable rabies control network among Members in the region.

The workshop opened with remarks from WOAH, GARC, Mission Rabies, and Malawi’s WOAH Delegate, thus setting the tone for collaboration and underscoring the global importance of rabies control. The opening remarks emphasised that eliminating dog‑mediated rabies by 2030 is of critical importance to meeting the global target of zero human deaths from rabies by 2030. Achieving this goal requires strong regional collaboration across SADC countries, since rabies does not respect borders. It also calls for investment in tools and training to improve vaccination coverage, surveillance, and diagnostics, as well as community engagement to ensure public participation and awareness.

The morning session provided an overview of global, regional and national progress toward dog-mediated rabies elimination. Presentations highlighted the WOAH standards and UAR tools on rabies, including the WOAH Rabies Vaccine Bank, WOAH endorsement of official control programmes against rabies, and the Roadmap for achieving the “Zero by 2030” goal.

Day two focused on planning and delivery of high-impact Mass Dog Vaccination (MDV) campaign strategies. Participants reviewed dog population structures – owned and free roaming dogs – and explored vaccination delivery approaches tailored to these structures.

The session also covered campaign design and the use of planning tools, including the Global Dog Rabies Elimination Pathway (GDREP tool), which enables public health officials to plan national strategies by predicting required resources and campaign duration. Additional tools highlighted included the VaxPlan Tool for designing effective campaigns and the Rabies Economic Model, which estimates dog‑to‑dog and dog‑to‑human rabies virus transmission rates while assessing the cost‑benefit of rabies control measures.

Participants visited villages and vaccination sites in Blantyre, which provided them with practical exposure to vaccination campaign operations. This hands-on experience enabled consolidation of previous learning through direct involvement in vaccination methods, dog handling, vaccine management, and field data collection using both the WVS and GARC Data Platform apps. The collected data were subsequently reviewed and visualised on a map, demonstrating the value of real-time digital monitoring of the vaccination campaigns. Participants also visited the Blantyre Veterinary Laboratory, where a  demonstration was held on brain tissue sampling from dog carcasses using the occipital foramen method —a safe sampling technique—as well as the use of lateral flow devices (LFDs) to support rapid diagnosis of rabies in the field in line with WOAH RABLAB guideline. Practical dog handling exercises at the Mission Rabies office complex and dog shelter rounded off the day, blending theory with real-world application.

The final day introduced Oral Rabies Vaccination (ORV) as a complementary tool to parenteral vaccination. ORV baits are crucial for reaching free-roaming and hard-to-access dog populations, improving vaccination coverage closer to the elimination threshold. International experts from FLI and CEVA presented the ORV principles, planning, field implementation and country experiences, including ORV operational experience from Namibia, followed by placebo bait demonstrations to the participants.

Subsequent sessions addressed surveillance requirements for freedom from dog-mediated rabies, Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM), and practical application of digital tools with hands-on exercise on – International Rabies Taskforce REACT App and GARC bite case tracker and animal case tracker App – to strengthen surveillance and response systems. Further discussions covered use of LFDs, regional data sharing, and establishment of a “SADC Rabies Control Coordinator Network” to strengthen ongoing collaboration and collective action across Members. The workshop concluded with evaluations, certificate awards, and closing remarks. Dr. Tenzin Tenzin of WOAH delivered the final take home messages, highlighting the importance of proper planning, scaling up MDV, increasing vaccination coverage, applying digital tools for planning and monitoring, strengthening surveillance, fostering regional solidarity, and promoting collective responsibility to achieve the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.