On the 28th September, the Government of Sierra Leone has renewed its commitment to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, amid a sharp rise in dog bite cases in Bombali District.
The commitment was made during the 2026 World Rabies Day commemoration held at De Wizzard Conference Hall in Bo on the theme: “Stronger Together”.
Deputy Minister 2 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ing. Bryan Smart-Kanu, told stakeholders that rabies remains 99.9 percent fatal once symptoms appear but is 100 percent preventable, yet continues to kill, especially children.
He said government will continue to lead mass dog vaccination campaigns, strengthen veterinary services and improve disease surveillance under the One Health approach, which is linked to the Feed Salone Agenda.
He stressed that government cannot end rabies alone and urged all dog and cat owners to vaccinate their animals. He also advised the public that anyone bitten by a dog should immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Director of Livestock and Veterinary Services Division, Mr. Saidu Bamayange, said rabies affects both domestic animals and wildlife and noted that deforestation and human encroachment into wildlife habitats are increasing risky contacts.
He called for stronger wildlife surveillance, inclusion of forest-edge communities in public awareness campaigns and promotion of responsible dog ownership. He emphasized that no one should die from a preventable disease and that through vigilance, timely reporting and coordinated action, rabies can be made history.
Presenting district surveillance data, Assistant Director of Livestock and ISAVET National Coordinator, Mr. Salam Saidu, disclosed that Bombali District recorded 383 dog bite cases from Week 1 to 38 in 2025, compared to 469 cases in the same period in 2026.
He further revealed that from January to August 2026 alone, the district recorded 12 suspected rabies-related deaths, describing the trend as alarming.
He warned that without reliable data, the ability to respond effectively and protect communities is compromised and called for an end to silo working between livestock officers and human health surveillance officers.
The event was attended by stakeholders from Bo District and representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Population Services International.
