The Donkey Sanctuary continues its fight against rabies

Rabies has a fatality rate of almost 100 per cent in humans and animals, and remains a global public health concern.

While dogs are the main source of transmission, working donkeys are also vulnerable, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities where access to veterinary services can be limited.

In response to the serious threat posed to both donkeys and the people who rely on them, our teams in Kenya and Ethiopia work in partnership with local organisations on pioneering initiatives to increase awareness and uptake of vital vaccinations.

Showcasing our success in Kenya

This year, some of our Kenyan team are attending the World Rabies Day Conference in Naivasha, hosted by the Kenya Veterinary Association. 

At the conference, the team are sharing results of their successful Rabies Vaccination Campaign, which was delivered in partnership with the County Government of Lamu. 

For more than 35 years we’ve provided free veterinary care and advice to improve the health and welfare of donkeys on Lamu Island. Rabies prevention is part of this and in partnership with local agencies and organisations, we’ve vaccinated almost 1,800 donkeys and over 2,500 dogs in the Lamu archipelago over the past two years.

Dr Calvin Solomon Onyango, Country Director at The Donkey Sanctuary Kenya, said: “This event is a great opportunity to share best practice and learn how we can work together to eliminate this deadly disease. By presenting our findings, we hope to forge further collaborative partnerships so together we can protect more communities and their donkeys.”

Community workshops in Ethiopia

On World Rabies Day, our team in Ethiopia will hold a workshop for donkey owners at the Donkey Welfare Clinic in Merkato, Addis Ababa, partnering with Addis Ababa University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture (CVMA). 

The workshop will be co-hosted by the College’s Veterinary Public Health Centre, which leads the coordination of partners from the animal health, human health, and environmental sectors to promote One Health initiatives. 

Donkey owners will learn about rabies prevention, recognising the symptoms of rabies, safe handling and the importance of vaccination. Through the sessions, the aim is to increase their knowledge of the disease leading to early reporting and a reduction in the cases of rabies. 

Fegegta Lemma, Country Director at The Donkey Sanctuary Ethiopia, said “We have been protecting donkeys in partnership with CVMA for over 30 years now and this workshop is just one element of our programmatic effort to prevent rabies. 

“We have seen the success of our colleagues in Lamu and we are also planning a similar vaccination campaign in the capital Addis Ababa or in Bishoftu town, and we also have plans to organise further community awareness days during market days in Dukem and Godino.” 

Continuing the fight against rabies

It is through programmes such as targeted vaccination and community awareness, our teams in Kenya and in Ethiopia, together with their partner organisations, are helping play a vital role in helping to prevent rabies.