Stronger Together From Strategy to Action: World Rabies Day 28 September 2026

Abstract

In this World Rabies Day 2026 message, themed "Stronger Together: From Strategy to Action", the Director of AU-IBAR, Dr Huyam Salih, presents the Pan-African Strategy for the Elimination of Rabies in Africa (PASERA) 2026–2030. PASERA is the continent's common framework for eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. It is aligned with the United Against Rabies Global Strategic Plan and anchored in AU Agenda 2063, the Animal Health Strategy for Africa and the AU Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy (2025–2029).

The message sets out what "Stronger Together" means in practice for Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AU technical institutions, technical and development partners, and communities. It also outlines PASERA's seven interconnected priorities:

coordination and policy harmonisation surveillance, diagnostics and data community awareness and engagement mass dog vaccination and dog population management access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and integrated bite management sustainable financing and partnerships evidence, research and innovation

The Director calls on stakeholders to replace parallel efforts with connected, collaborative action. They are asked to align current and planned interventions with PASERA and to turn continental commitment into measurable progress towards a rabies-free Africa.