In Malawi, it is not strange to see dogs roaming settlements.
The sight of the seemingly stray dogs is rising in urban areas.
Unfortunately, the dogs on the move spread deadly diseases such as rabies to people.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 99 percent of rabies patients are linked to dog bites.
The ‘mad-dog disease’ that dates back to more than 4000 years ago is widespread in over 150 countries, including Malawi.
WHO reports that it kills about 59 000 people each year and 40 percent are children aged below 15 years living in Asia and Africa.
Blantyre District director of Health and Social Services Dr Gift Kawalazira says five of rabies-related deaths occur at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) annually.
The hospital handles more cases from neighbouring districts such as Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mulanje and Phalombe.
The medical doctor says most of the people die because they delay to seek medical assistance.
“Once you develop full-blown disease, there is no cure. Eventually, you die. Those who present themselves in good time receive anti-rabies vaccine,” he says.
Kawalazira urges people to rush to the nearest health facilities once bitten by a dog.
Animal disease expert John Kothowa says the killer disease is preventable.
The veterinarian from Blantyre Agricultural Development Division says the country’s fight against rabies is on track.
In the Southern Region, Mission Rabies and other partners work with the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development to beat the deadly disease.
“Every year, we set aside specific weeks for rabies campaign during which we vaccinate more dogs and make dog owners aware of the dangers of rabies,” he says.
However, Dr Kothowa says some people shun the campaign due to the misconception that “when a dog gets rabies vaccine, it can no longer bark or hunt”.
Mission Rabies launched the rabies vaccination campaign in Blantyre in 2015 in response to the high number of children treated for rabies at QECH.
In 2016, the charity expanded the programme to Chiradzulu and Zomba.
This year, the campaign will also cover Chikwawa, Nsanje, Thyolo, Neno, Mwanza, Phalombe, Mulanje and Balaka.
For a tenth year, Mission Rabies has rolled out the anti-rabies campaign in Blantyre City where it targets 25 000 dogs in five weekends.
Its country director Dr Inga Macdermott says: “Any mammal can contract rabies, so it’s not just a dog disease.
“Dogs are the main reservoir of human infection. By protecting dogs, we can also protect people from rabies.”
She states that children are at higher risk of infection because they usually love, interact and handle dogs.
The vaccine campaign has reduced rabies cases and human deaths since 2015.
“Last year, rabies claimed the life of a child bitten by a dog in Machinjiri. After the bite, first aid, wound-washing and post-exposure prophylaxis were not initiated,” she said.
Blantyre City resident Luka Wayison was among hundreds who presented their dogs for vaccination in Mbayani Township.
“I want to protect my dog and community from rabies,” he said.
Mission Rabies also conducts free surgical sterilisation of dogs to prevent unwanted puppies that would grow into stray dogs.
Mission Rabies vaccinated 35 216 dogs during its debut year in 2015.
Last year, the number declined to 23 417.
According to WHO, the vaccine disrupts rabies transmission to humans if 70 percent of susceptible dogs in a particular community get the jab.
The United Nations health organisation reports that Europe, Canada, the USA, and Japan have kicked out dog-transmitted rabies.
In Africa, Tanzania and South Africa have made great strides to reduce rabies-related deaths.
Professor Adamson Muula, a public health expert from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, says Malawi has been struggling due to an inadequate supply of rabies vaccine for dogs.
However, he commends partners like Mission Rabies for rolling out free mass vaccination campaigns.
Muula urges people to take their dogs to vaccination sites.
The virus that causes rabies is transmitted through contact with the saliva of an infected animal via a bite, scratch or an open wound.
