Following their recent agreement to tackle rabies, specifically in Machakos County, Boehringer Ingelheim and Vétérinaires sans Frontières Germany (VSF Germany) are enhancing their longstanding partnership. This collaboration features vaccination campaigns, community education initiatives, and teaching programs within schools. Boehringer Ingelheim is donating rabies vaccines and providing financial support, whereas VSF Germany manages implementation efforts in collaboration with local partners.
This joint venture plays a role in Boehringer Ingelheim’s Stop Rabies campaign, which aligns with the Zero by 30 global plan aimed at eradicating human deaths due to rabies transmitted by dogs by the year 2030.
Collaborative Actions:
Vaccine Distribution: To date, Boehringer Ingelheim has supplied 100,000 doses of rabies vaccine, supporting Machakos County’s vaccination initiatives for 2023–2024. VSF Germany’s objective is to immunize at least 70% of the area’s dog population, aiming to establish herd immunity against rabies transmission to humans.
Educational Programs in Schools: Targeted educational schemes in three schools aim to inform approximately 1,300 students about rabies, its risks, and preventive measures. These students are expected to spread awareness, extending the educational impact beyond the schools to their homes and broader community.
Community Education and Awareness Campaigns: With Boehringer Ingelheim’s aid, VSF Germany spearheads extensive awareness programs involving community assemblies, distribution of printed materials, local FM radio talks, and engagement with community leaders. These efforts are forecasted to reach around 375,000 individuals from about 75,000 homes.
“The collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim marks a significant advancement for our organization,” stated Christian Griebenow, CEO of Vétérinaires sans Frontières Germany. “Together, we endeavor towards rabies prevention and awareness in Kenya. We appreciate Boehringer’s sizable donation and are eager to utilize our extensive experience in rolling out animal health initiatives.”
Dr. Erich Schoett, head of pet therapeutics and vaccines at Boehringer Ingelheim, remarked: “Our association with VSF Germany is a crucial section of our global Stop Rabies mission to combat rabies. Joint efforts in rabies prevention can safeguard animals and enhance health and safety in impacted regions, contributing sustainably towards rabies eradication.”
The goal is to drastically cut human and animal rabies cases and elevate awareness about prevention and control. Additionally, enhanced canine care and preventive measures are a focus. An optimized monitoring and reporting system is set to reinforce rabies detection and management infrastructure for timely and efficient response.
Stop Rabies: An International Campaign:
Rabies claims thousands of lives annually and remains prevalent in over 150 nations, with children in Asia and Africa comprising 40% of victims. With proper vaccination and awareness endeavors, rabies is entirely preventable. Stop Rabies aims to support our mission of enhancing animal and human health globally. We aspire to make a sustainable impact together with government and non-government bodies, health officials, veterinary professionals, and pet owners by centering on immunization, education, and surveillance.
In the past two decades, Boehringer has supplied over 1.5 billion rabies vaccine doses globally. The company has run dog vaccination schemes in Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam, partnering with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and local entities. Educational and awareness programs strive to annually inform a million children worldwide on rabies and safe dog interaction practices. Efforts are underway in the Philippines, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, and Ecuador. Monitoring is a key component to confirm achieving desired impacts.
Boehringer Ingelheim delivers innovative solutions for animal disease prevention and treatment. The company offers a comprehensive range of vaccines, parasite controls, and medicines for pets, horses, and livestock, serving veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and governments. As a leader in animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim acknowledges humans and animals’ health interconnection, striving to make a notable difference for people, animals, and society.
Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Germany is a charitable body committed to advancing animal health and welfare in East Africa through humanitarian and developmental cooperation. Collaborating closely with local communities, the organization seeks sustainable pathways to confront animal health issues and elevate living standards, particularly for isolated pastoral groups.
Boehringer Ingelheim functions as a biopharmaceutical company in both human and animal health realms. A top industry investor in research and development, the company emphasizes developing pioneering therapies for unmet medical needs.