Nov 28 (IPS) – Despite rabies being a major public health problem in Africa, it is not yet fully understood due to limited data. Although this has slowed efforts to eliminate the disease, the continent continues to bear a significant burden of the disease and accounts for the majority of deaths from the disease globally.
Except in a few countries, the continent has poor and incomplete data on the disease, which is usually caused by a bite or scratch from an infected dog. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease causes approximately 59,000 deaths worldwide each year, 95% of which occur in Africa and Asia.
Even when not fatal, rabies, like other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), a group of 20 diseases that can debilitate, disfigure and cause death, robs individuals of their health, dignity and livelihood.
In particular, rabies causes progressive and potentially fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system. If the virus infects the central nervous system and symptoms appear, it often leads to death, so prompt treatment is urgent.
The good news is that the knowledge and tools to treat rabies, one of humanity’s oldest diseases, are well known, proven, and available. There are vaccines and antibodies available that can save your life if you are infected, and there is even a dog vaccine to stop the virus.
But the bad news is that all of these weapons against the disease are largely ineffective due to the lack of complete, reliable, high-quality data that can inform effective decision-making and appropriate management. Without the full picture that only data can paint, the true scale and impact of the disease is unknown and unclear to decision makers.
Effectively eradicating rabies on the continent requires sound information about its prevalence, transmission patterns, vaccination rates and treatment efficacy. This makes it easier to identify infection hotspots, monitor and evaluate interventions, and deploy equitable responses.
A better understanding of the disease will help spur action by governments, funders and other actors to free up resources and mobilize action to alleviate unnecessary suffering and reduce drivers of health-related poverty.
Ultimately, this will help the continent achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which aims to reduce by 90% the number of people needing NTD interventions.
Over the past decade, progress has been made against NTDs, reducing the number of people needing NTD intervention by 600 million. Between 2010 and 2020This is due to strengthening domestic and international will.
There is a greater opportunity to further accelerate this progress by focusing on eradicating rabies. Without this critical data, disease efforts will be fragmented, reactive, unfocused, and ineffective.
This causes suffering to individuals and can sometimes lead to preventable death. WHO estimates that the global cost of rabies is approximately $8.6 billion per yearIt results in loss of life and livelihoods, medical and related costs, and incalculable psychological trauma.
Without adequate data, it becomes more difficult to mobilize national and international resources to control, eliminate and eradicate the disease.
Significant and sustainable resources are needed to provide vaccines to high-risk individuals and urgent care to communities that cannot afford it. Also important in this fight are mass vaccinations for dogs, which have been shown to be effective in controlling rabies, as well as public awareness and education campaigns on bite prevention and what to do if you are bitten.
It all starts with high-quality data and robust data systems. This is a compass for the fight against rabies and other NTDs in Africa. It is also a guide to eliminating the disease by identifying where to deploy vaccines, provide treatment, and build essential infrastructure.
It’s worth emphasizing that Kikundia community of practice for NTD program managers in Africa, is well-positioned 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 Rabies Boundaries’, now is the time to shake up the status quo by improving our understanding of this disease. No one in Africa should continue to suffer and die from preventable and treatable diseases like rabies.
Dr. Isato TourayThe former Vice President of the Republic of the Gambia is interim Secretary-General of the Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases.
© Interpress Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Interpress Service
