Rabies Free Cambodia
Making Cambodia Rabies-Free: Animal Mama's Unwavering Commitment
Overview
Since 2016, Animal Mama has spearheaded the Rabies Free Cambodia program, a cornerstone of our broader Pagoda Protocol campaign aimed at safeguarding both community and homeless animals. This multifaceted program emphasizes five key services: Rabies Vaccination, Core Vaccinations, Microchip, Neuter/Spay, and Deworming. Our reach extends across Cambodia, bringing vital veterinary care to remote provinces with no other veterinary services available, including Pailin, Battambang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kep, Sihanoukville, Takeo, Takmao, and several islands like Koh Kong and Ko Rong.
Our Work
Animal Mama engages in a variety of activities to combat rabies and improve animal welfare:
- Daily vaccination of 10-20 community, pagoda, and stray animals through our clinic as part of the Pagoda Protocol.
- Collaborative community missions and large-scale events with organizations such as World Vets, Vets Without Borders, Pawasome, and FARvets.
- Annual mass rabies vaccination and spay/neuter missions every September since 2017, in partnership with local government, religious, and community leaders.
- Cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Royal University of Agriculture for rabies awareness initiatives.
- Contributions to public education through a weekly column on animal and human health in a leading national newspaper.
Implementation
Mass Vaccination & Stray Population control: Central to the project's success, Animal Mama has organized and executed extensive vaccination drives, reaching remote and underserved communities. The logistical planning and execution of these drives have been pivotal in achieving widespread immunization coverage.
Community Engagement: Engaging with local communities has been essential. Through workshops and educational programs, Animal Mama has raised awareness about rabies prevention, treatment, and the importance of vaccination, fostering a culture of responsible pet ownership.
Collaboration: Collaborating with local governments, international organizations, and veterinary professionals has enabled the project to scale its impact, ensuring a coordinated approach to rabies eradication.
Specific Projects
- Rabies Free Cambodia: A proactive approach to mass rabies vaccination across the country.
- Pagoda Protocol: Includes mass spay/neuter, deworming, rabies vaccination and core vaccination for temple animals.
- Free Rabies September: An annual campaign since 2017 focused on rabies prevention.
- Weekly Health Column: Educating the public on animal and human health issues including rabies prevention.
Animal Mama has been honored with the World Rabies Day Award 2020 from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC)
World Rabies Day Award
2020
Impact
In just 8 years, Animal Mama has vaccinated and neutered over 72,000 stray, community, and village animals against rabies. In 2020 alone, we reached 3,000 animals and committed to distributing 10,000 free rabies vaccinations to Cambodian communities, particularly in temples and impoverished areas, from September to November. Our ongoing efforts also include spay/neuter missions to manage animal populations effectively. The results of our comprehensive approach are unparalleled in Cambodia, demonstrating our dedication to creating a safer, rabies-free environment for all.
Future Directions
With the successful administration of 72,000 vaccination and stray animal population control shots since 2016, the Rabies Free Cambodia project is set to expand its reach. Future plans include extending vaccination drives to more regions, enhancing community education efforts, and strengthening partnerships for broader impact.
Our Commitment
The Rabies Free Cambodia project exemplifies Animal Mama’s commitment to community welfare, public health and animal health. This initiative has not only made strides towards eradicating rabies but has also fostered a safer, more informed community. As we continue to expand our efforts, the support of donors and likeminded partners remains crucial for sustaining and amplifying our impact. Together, we move closer to a rabies-free Cambodia.
Recognition
Animal Mama is honored to have received the World Rabies Day Award 2020 from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC). This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to rabies prevention and highlights our impactful contributions towards safeguarding public health in Cambodia.
