Rabies Free Pakistan (RFP) is an initiative launched in 2018 by The Indus Hospital & Health Network and Getz Pharma. This national program is Pakistan’s first comprehensive effort to address rabies using the One Health Approach, endorsed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human and animal health in combating this deadly disease.

A Holistic Approach to Rabies Control
The RFP initiative seeks to tackle rabies prevention alongside the management of the stray dog population. Rabies, a fatal disease, continues to cause numerous deaths in Pakistan annually, necessitating a multi-faceted approach that includes:

• Mass Dog Vaccination (MDV): Conducting large-scale vaccination campaigns to prevent the spread of rabies among dogs, the primary reservoir of the disease.
• Animal Birth Control (ABC): Implementing humane methods of controlling the stray dog population through neutering and spaying to reduce overpopulation and rabies transmission.
• Advocacy and Policy Change: Promoting a shift from culling to humane approaches for managing stray dog populations through vaccination and sterilization and advocating for policy changes to support these methods.

Global Standards and National Impact
RFP adheres to international standards and WHO-approved protocols to ensure the program’s effectiveness and safety. It aims to create a lasting impact nationwide, focusing on both urban and rural areas where rabies transmission is most prevalent.

Commitment to Humane Methods
The program emphasizes the humane treatment of animals by replacing the controversial practice of dog culling with ethical and effective measures such as vaccination and sterilization. This shift is essential for sustainable rabies control and for fostering better relationships between communities and stray animals.

Rabies Free Pakistan is a landmark initiative aimed at safeguarding human and animal health. By focusing on mass vaccination, animal birth control, and policy advocacy, RFP is striving to reduce rabies cases and improve the well-being of both people and animals across the nation.