Dr Leonard Kibet, Veterinarian, child instruction in Kenya, July 2023.
Educating children in Kenya Children, given their smaller stature and increased likelihood to play with dogs, are disproportionately affected by rabies, which is always fatal after the onset of symptoms. The Boehringer Ingelheim Stop Rabies program has begun support of the Mara North Conservancy Dog Project to provide rabies and dog bite education to school children in rural southwestern Kenya. The aim of the initiative is to increase community awareness and knowledge of rabies, dog behavior, how to prevent dog bites, and what to do when bitten, by educating school children and their family members in rural Kenya. The program consists of a 1-hour interactive training session given by 2 veterinary professionals, one veterinarian and one veterinary technician, to school children aged between 5 and 16. These professionals have delivered more than 334 training sessions in Bomet county and 380 in Narok county including a few health professional and students, but mainly targeting children. Thanks to this program, over 129 000 children have been educated since the end of 2022 which, represents about 20% of the child population in this area.
Last mile delivery challenges were numerous (geographic distance, roads and small school size), but the initiative was successful thanks to the good collaboration between all key stakeholders including the County Director of Veterinary Services, County Director of Health Services and Chiefs of municipalities. Participants understood the need for implementing dog vaccination campaigns. They particularly appreciated benefits brought not only to the learners themselves but to the wider community. Through these initiatives, the company is making significant strides and demonstrating its unwavering commitment to animal health and welfare. For Veterinary Public Health Key Opinion Leaders, these initiatives offer valuable insights into the untapped potential of collaborative, innovative and holistic approaches to tackling some of the most pressing challenges in animal health.
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