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Rabies remains one of the world’s most preventable yet deadly diseases, claiming an estimated 59,000 lives each year—nearly half of them children. Health experts stress that eliminating the disease will require not only vaccines and treatment, but strong community engagement as part of a coordinated One Health approach linking human, animal and environmental health.
Communities are the frontline of surveillance for both human and animal rabies. Early recognition of suspect animal bites, rapid reporting of unusual animal deaths or behaviour, and prompt care-seeking after exposure are essential to prevent infections and trigger a timely public health response.
To support these efforts, World Health Organization and UNICEF have launched a series of three short educational films designed to help communities better understand rabies prevention and what to do after a dog bite.
The films target three key audiences: children, parents and teachers, and community health workers. Together they explain how rabies is transmitted, how to avoid dog bites, and the lifesaving importance of immediate wound washing and rapid access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
“Communities are the first line of defence against rabies,” said Dr Bernadette Abela, WHO lead on rabies, “When children know how to behave safely around dogs, when families understand the urgency of seeking care after a bite, and when frontline health workers are equipped to respond quickly, rabies deaths can be prevented.”
Designed for use in schools, community meetings and health facilities, the films support countries in strengthening awareness, surveillance and rapid response—key pillars of the global effort to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths.