EDUCATION
The Alliance for Rabies Control supports the development and dissemination of rabies education materials. To this end, the Alliance created a bank of educational materials and specific materials for lesson plans and school teachers. In addition, it supports grass-roots rabies education projects across the world.Why rabies education matters? Simply stated, rabies is one of the few diseases that can be prevented through improved education. Clearly, no one would voluntarily choose to die of they knew what to do in order to prevent the disease. In many parts of the world where dog rabies continues to take a heavy toll on human lives, there continues to be a lack if awareness as to how rabies is transmitted and what must be done to prevent the disease.
For example, in many countries victims of dog bites visit local healers who provide incorrect and dangerous treatment protocols including the application of chilli powder on unwashed wounds, incantations, and wearing of amulets rather than understand that to prevent rabies infection, they must wash their wounds immediately and seek professional medical advice as soon as possible.
One specific example of how rabies education can effectively reduce the incidence of rabies and the incidence of dog bites comes from the Philippines where the number of rabies deaths and dog bites in children was reduced by 27% and 57% respectively in just one year after information about rabies prevention was introduced into the school curriculum.
Please click here if you are a school teacher or health professional looking for a lesson plan and materials.
