As World Rabies Day approaches on 28 September, we would like to thank everyone who has supported our rabies vaccination programme in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Over 99% of rabies cases in people are caused by an infected dog bite. Once symptoms of the disease develop, it is fatal.

Every year, millions of healthy dogs are inhumanely killed for fear of this horrible disease. However, this doesn’t prevent the spread of rabies, which causes the death of ca. 59,000 people a year – the majority of which are children under fifteen.

Science shows that the most effective method to control rabies in the long-term is through mass vaccination of dogs in places where the disease is endemic, with community engagement programmes to raise awareness about the disease, dog bite prevention and how to behave around the dogs roaming in a community.

So far, our work in Kabul, Afghanistan has brought about some big changes:

Mayhew convinced the Kabul authorities to stop culling by strychnine poisoning in January 2017

Our mass rabies vaccination programme started in August of that year. Despite the challenges of Covid, a batch of damaged vaccines and then regime change, our vaccination programme saving lives both dog and human has continued.

Across Kabul we have delivered four cycles of vaccination in the central 16 districts of the city and then from 2022 we expanded the programme to the six outlying districts of the city. This consistent and strategic approach has meant that since 2017 and more than 120,000 dogs vaccinated against rabies.

There have been no confirmed recorded cases of rabies in dogs or humans in Kabul since 2021

We have delivered a Community Engagement programme for all Kabul residents, talking with children and adults out and about in the neighbourhoods where are vaccinating teams are working about how to stay safe and how to behave around the street dogs.

More than 10,250 children and adults have been reached since 2018

However, we became aware that there are cases of rabies in both dogs and humans in the neighbouring provinces of Kabul and indeed within a 20 km radius outside the city’s limits. So now, we are vaccinating dogs in this 20 km radius as well as responding to any concerns from Kabul residents about dogs in the city.

We want to keep Kabul protected and by vaccinating the dogs in this buffer zone, we aim to prevent transmission of the virus to dogs living in the city or to people through dog bites.

Can you please help us achieve our goal of vaccinating at least 70% of the dogs in the buffer zone outside Kabul city by the end of 2024? Buy a virtual gift here.

Thank you for helping to save lives!