Nov 28 (IPS) – Rabies, although a major public health problem in Africa, is not fully understood, due to the limited information available on it. This has slowed efforts to eradicate it, yet the continent bears the brunt of the disease and causes the most deaths worldwide.
With the exception of a few countries, the continent generally has poor and incomplete information on this disease caused by the bite or scratch of an infected dog. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this disease kills an estimated 59,000 people every year in the world, 95 percent of them in Africa and Asia.
Even in non-lethal cases, rabies, like other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) – a group of 20 debilitating, debilitating and potentially fatal diseases – robs people of good health, dignity and livelihoods.
Rabies, in particular, causes persistent and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system. It usually leads to death when the virus has entered the central nervous system and symptoms appear, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate treatment.
The good news is that knowledge and tools to fight rabies, one of the oldest human diseases, are known, proven and available. Vaccines and antibodies can save lives if an infection is present, as well as dog vaccinations to prevent the virus.
The bad news, however, is that all these weapons against this disease have been rendered ineffective by the lack of complete, reliable, and high-quality data that can inform effective decision-making and appropriate management. Without the full picture that only data can paint, decision makers cannot see the true scale and impact of the disease is unclear.
In order to successfully eradicate rabies on the continent, there is a need for adequate information about its prevalence, infection patterns, vaccination rates and treatment success. Armed with this, it becomes easier to identify areas of infection, monitor and evaluate interventions and issue proportionate responses.
A better understanding of the disease will help mobilize governments, donors and other stakeholders to mobilize resources and mobilize action to end unnecessary suffering and reduce the drivers of health-related poverty.
Ultimately, this will help the continent achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 which aims for a 90 percent reduction in the number of people requiring NTD interventions.
Over the last decade, progress has been made against NTDs, resulting in 600 million fewer people needing NTD interventions between 2010 and 2020, which has resulted from strengthening domestic and international commitments.
There is a great opportunity to accelerate this progress by focusing on the fight against rabies. Without this important data, efforts to combat this disease will remain fragmented, ineffective, unfocused and ineffective.
This will leave people suffering and can sometimes lead to preventable deaths. WHO estimates that the global cost of rabies is 8.6 billion rabies per year, caused by loss of life, medical care and related costs, and psychological trauma that is not counted.
The lack of appropriate data also makes it very difficult to mobilize national and international resources to control, eradicate and eradicate the disease.
Substantial and sustainable resources are needed to obtain vaccines for high-risk populations and emergency treatment for communities that cannot afford them. Another important part of this fight is mass vaccination of dogs that have been found to be effective in controlling rabies, as well as public awareness campaigns and teaching about bite prevention and what to do when bitten or scratched.
This all starts with quality data and robust data systems. This is a compass in the fight against rabies and other NTDs in Africa. It is also a guide to the eradication of the disease by identifying where vaccines can be placed, providing treatment and distribution of the necessary infrastructure.
It is worth highlighting that Kikundi, a community of practice for NTD program managers in Africa, is in a good position to strengthen efforts to improve data quality and build robust systems, ultimately supporting countries in their fight against rabies.
As highlighted in this year’s World Rabies Day theme – ‘Breaking the boundaries of rabies’, it is time to disrupt the situation by improving our understanding of the disease. No one in Africa should continue to suffer and die from preventable and treatable diseases like rabies.
Dr Isatou Tourayformer Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, is the interim Executive Director of the Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases.
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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