DOGS VACCINATION PROJECT

The dog vaccination program in Tanzania has made significant strides since its inception in 2018. With a dedicated team of veterinarians and volunteers, the project has successfully vaccinated thousands of dogs across the country, creating a safer environment for both animals and humans.

Through community outreach and education initiatives, local residents have been informed about the importance of vaccinating their pets to prevent the spread of rabies.

It is crucial to combat rabies in Tanzania.

In the northern region of Tanzania, rabies was widespread before the vaccination initiative began, primarily due to the high number of wild animals, especially hyenas. To address this issue, the government asked local residents to contribute funds for dog vaccinations. Unfortunately, many people couldn't afford the vaccinations due to financial constraints. Consequently, a difficult decision was made to euthanize all unvaccinated dogs, resulting in a tragic situation where many dogs lost their lives. To save the lives of these innocent animals, EAAW initiated a dog vaccination project in the Singida region in 2018, providing free vaccinations. During this time, awareness campaigns and vaccinations were conducted simultaneously, significantly reducing rabies cases from 30 cases every six months to 6, with no dogs being euthanized

Our aim with this initiative is to eradicate rabies in Tanzania by 2030. This will be achieved through partnering with the government, stakeholders, community members, and donors to vaccinate dogs and cats, raise awareness about responsible pet ownership, and educate on rabies prevention. By joining forces, we can establish a safer environment for both humans and animals. Through vaccination campaigns, outreach initiatives, and consistent monitoring, our objective is to eliminate rabies and ensure a healthier future for Tanzania. Together, we can drive change and reach our target of a rabies-free country by 2030.

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DOGS VACCINATION TREND SINCE 2018

The tale began when Ayubu Nnko was enjoying an evening coffee with friends in a certain place. Suddenly, community soldiers passed by, shooting a dog right in front of the restaurant where Ayubu and his friends were seated. Witnessing this act filled Ayubu with sympathy and sorrow for the innocent animal. Overwhelmed, Ayubu followed the soldier to inquire about their actions. The soldier explained to Ayubu that the dogs roaming the streets needed to be eliminated to prevent the spread of rabies, which was a prevalent issue at the time.

Returning to the coffee table with his friends, the conversation shifted towards finding a way to save these animals from being shot. This is where the concept of vaccinating dogs was born. Ayubu and his friends pooled their resources, with Ayubu taking the lead in organizing the initiative to start vaccinating the dogs.

The initial trip to Singida posed challenges due to limited resources and a lack of awareness about rabies and vaccinations. In 2018, the project primarily focused on raising awareness about the effects of rabies, prevention methods, and increasing access to free vaccinations. By 2019, a significant portion of the Singida region had been educated about rabies, resulting in a large number of dogs being vaccinated with support from donors and collaboration with community leaders. Consequently, the cases of rabies began to decline, with only 6 cases reported every six months by August 2023, a significant drop from the previous rate of 30 cases per six months.