Concept Note

World Rabies Day Celebration in Ethiopia

Theme: “All for 1, One Health for all”
**Background:**
World Rabies Day is an annual global event observed on September 28th to raise awareness and advocate
for rabies elimination. It is an event designed to be inclusive, uniting people, organizations, and stakeholders
across all sectors against rabies. The theme for this year’s World Rabies Day is “All for 1, One Health for
all,” reflecting the collaborative approach needed to combat rabies effectively.
This year’s World Rabies Day celebration in Ethiopia holds special significance due to the convergence of
important milestones that serve as catalysts for scaling up rabies elimination programs in the country. The
recent joint external evaluation and self-assessment as part of the performance of the veterinary services
by WHO and WOAH, respectively, highlighted crucial foundational areas that require enhancement to
strengthen national capacities in preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats, including
rabies, emerging from the human-animal-environment interface. Furthermore, Ethiopia undertook a
comprehensive assessment of its current rabies elimination capacities using the Stepwise Approach for
Rabies Elimination (SARE), which identified key areas for intervention.
Significantly, the event follows the successful nationwide pilot dog vaccination and community awareness
campaigns, resulting in the vaccination of over 357,617 dogs against rabies since October 2021. These
endeavors mark pivotal steps toward achieving rabies elimination.
The Rabies Control Program in Ethiopia has achieved notable success in its pilot regions, thanks to the
collaborative efforts between government agencies and potential partners. A key aspect of this success
has been the comprehensive training provided to healthcare providers and rabies laboratory personnel.
This training initiative has significantly bolstered laboratory-based rabies surveillance in Ethiopia, enhancing
the country's ability to detect and respond to rabies as a public health emergency, especially for bite
victims (IBCM). Moreover, the program's procurement efforts have resulted in the importation of over
32 thousand doses of modern anti-rabies vaccine, underlining the government's commitment to addressing
this critical health issue. These combined efforts reflect substantial progress towards realizing Ethiopia's
strategic plan for rabies elimination.
The National Rabies Technical Working Group, in collaboration with national and sub-national One Health
platforms and development partners, is committed to celebrating World Rabies Day on 28th September
2023 with a special focus on raising awareness about rabies and strategies to bolster dog vaccination and
community awareness efforts.
**Purpose:**
The commemoration event for World Rabies Day in Ethiopia 2023 aims to bring together pertinent
stakeholders from public, animal, and environmental health sectors, higher officials, media organizations,
municipalities, One Health leaders and champions, academia, the private sector, and NGOs. The event
seeks to strengthen collaborative efforts and amplify awareness, showcasing achievements and
commitments while promoting a One Health approach to rabies elimination.
**Objectives:**
1. Enhance Multisectoral Collaboration: Facilitate networking and knowledge exchange among
diverse stakeholders to foster a collaborative approach to rabies elimination efforts.
2. Amplify Public Awareness: Engage media organizations to disseminate accurate and timely rabies-
related information, increasing awareness about risks, preventive measures, and responsible dog
ownership.
3. Showcase Achievements and Commitment: Provide a platform for academia, NGOs, and the
private sector to highlight their contributions to rabies elimination, reaffirming commitment to a rabies-
free Ethiopia.
4. Promote One Health Approach: Empower participants to champion the interconnectedness of
human, animal, and environmental health, advocating for a comprehensive approach in combating rabies
and zoonotic diseases.
**Approach:**
The commemoration event will take the form of a One-day workshop held in Addis Ababa town. The
workshop will begin with impactful keynote addresses delivered by esteemed higher officials representing
the various participating sectors. Subsequent highlighted presentations will emphasize the importance of
multisectoral collaboration, showcasing accomplishments, and reiterating commitments. Following this, an
interactive panel discussion will showcase diverse advocacy strategies aimed at mobilizing resources,
fostering One Health collaboration, and amplifying public awareness efforts. Through interactive sessions,
engaging presentations, and collaborative discussions, the approach aims to foster active participation,
insightful dialogue, and effective knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, thereby contributing to the
overarching goal of rabies elimination.
**Participants:**
Key participants of the event includes:

• Ministers or state ministers or commissioners, Director Generals of key one health sector offices
(MOH, MOA, EWCA, EPA, and MOE)
• Directors or Heads of Regional Bureaus of Agriculture/Animal Health and Public Health
• Representatives from regional One Health teams
• Representatives from One Health TWG
• Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI)
• Animal Health Institute (AHI)
• National Veterinary Institute (NVI)
• Ethiopia Agriculture Authority (EAA)
• Representatives from key Universities, and research institutions
• Public and private mass media, and key one health sector spokes persons (PRs)
• Representatives from One Health relevant professional associations (EVA, EPHA, EEHPA
(Ethiopian Environmental Health Professionals Association, ...)
• Donors, private practitioners and key one health partners
• Community representatives
• Municipalities
• Livestock and Fishery Sector Development Project (LFSDP)
• Health of Ethiopian Animals for Rural Development (HEARD)
Date and place: Kick-off and in-door celebration will be on 02 October 2023, Addis Ababa
Date for mass dog vaccination and awareness raising campaign: on 03-04 October 2023
Budget source: Budget required for organizing the celebration program and subsequent awareness raising
campaigns for the public, dog vaccination campaign in various location in Addis Ababa will be covered by
partners such as WHO, FAO, JHU, CORE-Group, UK-HSA and VSF-Suisse. FAO will cover the cost for
Venue hotel, refreshment and lunch and two days accommodation for ------ government staff involved in
mass dog vaccination campaign in Addis Ababa (detail budget calculation Excel attached).

World Rabies Day Celebration in Ethiopia

Venue: TBD, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Date: 24th September 2023
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM:
Registration and Welcome Participants arrive and register.
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM:
Session 1: Keynote
Addresses
Opening Ceremony
Session 2: Presentations 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM:
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM:
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM:
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM:
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM:
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM:
Session 3: Panel
Discussion
11:15 AM – 12:15 AM
Half-Day Event Program
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM:
- [Name], [Title], MoH/EPHI
- [Name], [Title], Addis Ababa City Agriculture Commission Commissioner
- [Name], [Title], USAID
- [Name], [Title], WHO
- [Name], [Title], UK-HSA
- Welcome Address by HE Dr Fikru Regassa, State Minister to the Ministry of
Agriculture - Introduction to the Event by [Host's Name], [Title]
Highlighting Achievements and Commitments Showcasing impactful
initiatives and commitments in the fight against rabies.
Processes and result of 2023 SARE Evaluation, pending activities,
financial estimation and way forward
Multisectoral Collaboration for Rabies Elimination: a case study by
African One Health Universities Network (AFROHUN) titled “Integrated
Control and Elimination of Rabies in Ethiopia: Information Management Platform
and Factors Affecting the Implementation of the National Strategy”
Advocacy and Mobilizing Resources Strategies for effective advocacy to
secure resources for rabies elimination.
Promoting One Health Collaboration and Increasing Public
Awareness Harnessing the power of One Health collaboration for rabies
control. Elevating public awareness through innovative campaigns.
Tea/Coffee Break Refreshments and networking opportunity.
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM:
Panel Discussion: Advocacy for Rabies Elimination Moderated discussion
featuring experts and stakeholders. Exploring advocacy approaches to mobilize
resources and promote One Health collaboration.
 World Rabies Day Celebration in Ethiopia
Half-Day Event Program
Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments Concluding remarks by [Host's
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM: Name], [Title] Acknowledging partners, participants, and contributors.
Networking Lunch Participants are invited to a networking lunch to continue
12:30 PM: discussions and build connections.
13:30 – 17:00 Field activity: Launching of dog vaccination community awareness campaigns

**Resource required**

Quantity Unit Fund

Description Unit Total cost
Days Persons cost source
Per diem for participants Person
3 65 650 126,750
outside Addis Ababa town /Day
Fuel and air transport cost
for participants outside 45 6000 270,000
Addis Ababa
Taxi fee for participants to Person/
4 30 300 36,000
and from airport day
Accommodation for
nights 2 50 2500 250,000
government participants
Refreshment, lunch, and hall
1 80 1500 120,000
rent
Incentive for traditional/
1 20,000 20,000
local entertainment club
Print materials and
20,000 25,000
stationery
T-shirt, cap and bags 100 2000 200,000
Total Cost 1,047,750