By Doreen Karungi
On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), Welfare for Animals Guild Rwanda (WAG), and other interested stakeholders launched a nationwide campaign aimed at combating rabies.
As per RBC, in 2024, 2,688 individuals got dog bites among whom two were confirmed with rabies—one recovered while the other unfortunately lost their life.
Coordination Officer of NTD-WASH, Nathan Hitiyaremye pointed out that control and prevention of rabies depend on three interventions: vaccinating dogs, giving immediate vaccines to a person who has been bitten, and education of the public about safe habits.
He restated that even though cases of rabies remain relatively low in Rwanda, constant sensitization drives are necessary to compel individuals to report promptly at the medical center after a dog bites them.
Dr. Brian Chirombo, WHO Representative in Rwanda, said that rabies is a deadly disease but one that can be prevented 100% if appropriate interventions are taken promptly.
“Vaccinating in bulk, making people come to health centers shortly after being bitten, and applying the One Health approach—humans, animals, and the environment as one package—is the real answer,” he says
Dr. Chirombo echoed WHO’s global target: no human fatalities from rabies caused by dogs by 2030. He was confident that Rwanda can be part of states that have already eradicated the disease.
Dr. Richard Nduwayezu, WAG’s Director of Partnerships and Research, encouraged citizens to do more in vaccinating their dogs. WAG, a society that works to care for stray dogs and ensure responsible ownership, cautioned that, once symptoms of rabies appear, there is no cure.
“Vaccination for dogs protects animals and human beings. All of us need to do our bit in preventing rabies,” he says
He also recommended annual vaccination of the dog and immediate medical care for a person bitten by it. He also recommended that male and female stray dogs be sterilized to curb the population growth, adding that one female dog could give birth to as many as 20 puppies over a period of time, escalating the problem.
Globally, rabies kills more than 60,000 people every year. Rwanda has set its sights high to eliminate the disease completely by 2030.
