Mission Rabies to Roll Out Dog Vaccination Campaign in Dowa

An international organisation working to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths through mass canine vaccinations, education and surveillance — Mission Rabies Worldwide Veterinary Services — will in April 2026 vaccinate dogs across Dowa District.

The vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin on 13 April 2026 and will run for eight weeks, covering the entire district. An additional two weeks have been set aside for mop-up activities to ensure at least 70 percent vaccination coverage.

Mission Rabies has already implemented similar campaigns in 15 districts in the Southern Region and two districts in the Central Region — Dedza and Ntcheu. The organisation is now expanding further into the Central Region, with Dowa among the targeted districts.

Presenting the project to the District Executive Committee (DEC), Mission Rabies Project Coordinator Tayamika Lisuntha said that globally about 59,000 people die from rabies each year, with 30 to 60 percent of the victims being children under the age of 15.

Lisuntha said the organisation began its work in Malawi in 2015, starting in Blantyre District, and has expanded annually. In 2025 alone, it covered 15 districts and operates offices in Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe. He added that an estimated 500 people die from rabies annually in Malawi.

He said the Dowa project aims to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the dog population each year while also providing rabies education and strengthening surveillance systems.

“Vaccinating 70 percent of the dog population can eliminate rabies and is the most cost-effective strategy. This approach has been proven effective and is endorsed by the World Health Organization,” said Lisuntha.

He added that in line with the WHO rabies elimination strategy to achieve herd immunity in the dog reservoir population, Mission Rabies vaccinated 186,493 dogs in 2025.

“In 2026, we will reach out to 250 schools with rabies education, train five temporary Education Officers, 250 School Health and Nutrition (SHN) teachers to provide rabies sensitisation across all areas of the district, and two government veterinary staff in rabies surveillance,” he said.

In her remarks, Dowa District Council Director of Planning and Development, Mercy Mpakule, urged development partners operating in the district to support the campaign.

Mpakule also advised Mission Rabies to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the council and the Dowa Civil Society Organisation Network to enhance cooperation, transparency and accountability in project implementation.

Mission Rabies Worldwide Veterinary Services will implement the 70 percent dog vaccination campaign in Dowa District with a budget of K49,465,000.