6.1 Why a tool for stepwise rabies control?

Technical guidance, tools and updated standards for the sustainable implementation of rabies programmes are available. Over the past decade, international organizations such as the FAO, OIE, WHO and GARC have initiated global capacity programmes to strengthen national public health systems and veterinary services. However, the implementation of rabies prevention and control programmes remains the responsibility of national authorities that have to cope with a multiplicity of human and animal disease priorities while attempting to overcome the challenges associated with planning across sectors and administrative levels. The One Health concept has been beneficial in addressing these challenges.

The Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE) has been developed as a practical planning, monitoring and evaluation tool to guide, develop and refine rabies control programmes. This tool provides tangible and achievable steps for the control and prevention of dog-transmitted rabies.

It is aligned with the One Health approach and its categories are linked to the Global Framework for the Elimination of Dog-Mediated Human Rabies, following the principle of strengthening intersectoral collaboration with the goal of sustained rabies risk reduction over time.