Animal health workers and local authorities trained in rabies prevention measures thanks to financial support from VSF-Suisse

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Extract from the article: The Togolese government organises annual animal rabies vaccination campaigns at subsidised cost. The evidence shows that there is a great need to regularly raise public awareness and encourage people to take part in these campaigns on a massive scale

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The Togolese government organises annual animal rabies vaccination campaigns at subsidised cost. The evidence shows that there is a great need to regularly raise public awareness and encourage people to take part in these campaigns on a massive scale in order to protect their lives and those of their animals.  Therefore, in order to contribute to the fight against this zoonosis in the Savannah region, the NGO Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse) is proposing to support the training and awareness-raising of stakeholders and populations in two prefectures, Tône and Tandjouare in particular, in complementarity and synergy with the vaccination campaign usually organised by the government.  From 25-30 September 2023, three training workshops were organised, including one for animal health officers and two others for the local authorities of Tône and Tandjouaré.  Training and raising the awareness of these players was an effective way of getting more people to sign up to vaccinating their animals. More than 2,300 people have been reached in the two prefectures.

Almost every day, health workers are faced with cases of dog bites, sometimes resulting in the loss of human life. Speaking of exposures and loss of human life, Togo's Ministry of Health has recorded 25,442 cases of dog bites and 115 confirmed cases of rabies over the last 5 years, including 35 deaths in hospital, for an average of 50,88 dog bites and 23 confirmed cases each year, with the Savanes region being one of the most affected.

In order to contribute to the fight against rabies in the Savanes region, VSF-Suisse has made a financial contribution to train animal health workers (heads of post and village livestock auxiliaries) and local authorities in rabies prevention measures. Thus, in collaboration with the Savanes Regional Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (DRAEDR Savanes), three training workshops were organised from 25 September 2023.

Training for animal health officers

The training workshop for animal health agents got underway on Monday 25 September 2023 at the DRAEDR Savanes offices. The opening ceremony was addressed by the Regional Director of the DRAEDR, Djatoite Minto, who emphasised the importance of capacity building in the fight against rabies in the Savanes region.He urged the participants to pay particular attention and to take part in enriching sharing sessions.A total of 31 participants attended, including heads of veterinary posts, village livestock auxiliaries (AVEs), human health nurses, and heads of the regional and prefectural animal production, fisheries and veterinary control sections. The 6-hour training session, facilitated by veterinary surgeon Dr André Bedekelabou, provided participants with an opportunity to discuss their expectations of the rabies epidemic, its clinical signs in dogs and humans, and the methods used to combat this zoonosis.

Training for local authorities   

Two training workshops were held for local authorities.The first took place on the premises of the DRAEDR Savanes on Tuesday 26 September 2023, and the second at the Tandjouaré youth centre, bringing together 75 participants, including mayors, the prefect's representative and canton chiefs.These two meetings provided an opportunity to reinforce the measures being taken to combat rabies, and to emphasise their role in this fight. The canton chiefs gave several accounts of cases of rabies that had caused the death of members of their community, and described the measures taken by the community to put an end to the disease.This training course was therefore seen as an opportunity to strengthen the control measures in their communities, particularly by raising awareness of the need for regular dog vaccination

Raising community awareness

After the training courses, the community awareness phase was launched. The Prefectoral Directors, with the support of the village chiefs, drew up a tour programme to raise awareness of rabies in the villages.  Over a two-day period, men, women and children gathered at the homes of their village chiefs in 34 targeted village communities to learn about four key topics: the symptoms of rabies, how the disease spreads, how to prevent it and collective responsibility.

The PAs and AVEs explained to the villagers what rabies is and how it affects animals and humans.The symptoms of rabies in humans and dogs were described to local people, including changes in behaviour, agitation, muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing and fear of water.Once these symptoms appear, it is almost certain that the patient will die.  Rabies is transmitted to humans mainly by contact with saliva or by the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Animals carrying the rabies virus may appear normal for some time, making it difficult to detect the disease. This is why it is essential to take precautions if an animal bites or scratches you, even if it appears healthy.

During the session, officials stressed the importance of having dogs vaccinated regularly, as this is the best way to protect against this deadly disease.

28 September: World Rabies Day

These activities were held to mark World Rabies Day, which is celebrated around the world every 28 September. The aim of this celebration is to raise public awareness and campaign for the elimination of rabies worldwide.This year's theme is « Rabies: All for One, One Health for All ».

At the close of these activities, VSF-Suisse expressed its great satisfaction at the collaboration with the Togolese government in this fight to save human lives, which requires a great deal of commitment from the people and the authorities, and a great deal of financial resources.

The Swiss organisation is committed to continuing its efforts to mobilise funds to help communities eradicate rabies by 2030.

William O.