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The SARE tool for rabies control: Current experience in Ethiopia
A Coetzer1, A H Kidane2, M Bekele3
1Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Global Alliance for Rabies Control SA NPC, Erasmus Forum A434, South Erasmus Rand, 0181 Pretoria, South Africa.
Ethiopia used the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE) tool to assess rabies control. The assessment identified gaps in vaccine access and collaboration, but highlighted strengths in surveillance, paving the way for a national strategy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Zoonotic Disease Control
Background:
- The African continent faces the highest per capita rabies death rate globally.
- Ethiopia ranks second in Africa for estimated rabies fatalities.
- Rabies elimination efforts require standardized assessment tools for progress measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a national rabies self-assessment in Ethiopia using the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE) tool.
- To identify critical gaps and strengths in Ethiopia's canine rabies control program.
- To inform the development of a national strategy for rabies prevention and control.
Main Methods:
- Ethiopia utilized the Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE) tool for self-assessment.
- An intersectoral consultative meeting was convened in February 2016 to evaluate progress.
- The SARE framework guided the identification of key criteria for rabies control.
Main Results:
- Critical gaps identified include poor inter-sectoral collaboration and limited dog vaccine availability/access.
- Strengths include an existing rabies surveillance system and legislation for outbreak declaration and response.
- Ethiopia's rabies control is currently at Stage 0.5/5, indicating early stages of control.
Conclusions:
- The SARE tool facilitated prioritization of key criteria, accelerating Ethiopia's National Strategy.
- Despite early-stage progress, Ethiopia demonstrates significant potential for developing a SARE-guided National Rabies Prevention and Control Strategy.
- The findings support accelerated progress towards the global goal of eliminating human rabies deaths by 2030.
