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. 2024 Sep 24;7(9):e70112.
doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70112. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Rabies control in Ghana: Stakeholders interventions, challenges and opportunities

Benjamin Obukowho Emikpe  1 , Derrick Adu Asare  1 , William Tasiame  2 , Sylvester Segbaya  3 , Prince Nana Takyi  1 , Emmanuel Allegye-Cudjoe  4
Affiliations

Rabies control in Ghana: Stakeholders interventions, challenges and opportunities

Benjamin Obukowho Emikpe et al. Health Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Rabies remains a significant public health issue in Ghana, predominantly affecting rural communities with limited access to health care and veterinary services. The disease is primarily transmitted through bites from infected domestic dogs and leads to many deaths worldwide each year. Despite various interventions, Ghana continues to struggle with rabies control and prevention. This narrative paper focuses on rabies control in Ghana, examining stakeholders' interventions, challenges faced, and opportunities available.

Methods: The paper reviews existing rabies control measures in Ghana, including dog vaccination efforts and One Health strategies. It also discusses the limitations of these interventions, such as minimal vaccination coverage, weak surveillance, and inadequate intersectoral coordination.

Results: Ghana has implemented dog vaccination campaigns, but coverage remains minimal. Additionally, weak disease surveillance, cultural perceptions, and inadequate coordination across sectors have hampered the country's ability to control rabies effectively.

Conclusion: Adopting One Health principles, which integrate human, animal, and environmental health efforts, is emphasized as a critical strategy to eliminate rabies in Ghana by 2030. By addressing these challenges and leveraging available opportunities, Ghana can strengthen its rabies control programs and work toward a rabies-free future.

Keywords: challenges; ghana; interventions; one health; public health; rabies control.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Animal rabies cases (2006−2019) (Global Alliance for Rabies Control 10 ).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Human rabies cases (2015−2019) (Global Alliance for Rabies Control 10 ).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dog population and rabies vaccination coverage (2016− 2018).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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