Boehringer Ingelheim Expands Rabies Prevention Program in Zimbabwe

Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with AWARE Germany e.V. and AWARE Trust Zimbabwe to expand rabies prevention efforts in Tsholotsho District, one of Zimbabwe’s remote rural areas.

The multi-year initiative is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s global Stop Rabies program and will combine dog vaccination, population management and community education to help reduce the spread of rabies.

Rabies is preventable but continues to cause tens of thousands of deaths worldwide each year. More than 99% of human rabies cases are linked to infected dogs, making dog vaccination a key part of efforts to control the disease.

The new program will operate from AWARE’s veterinary hub in Tsholotsho. Mobile veterinary teams plan to vaccinate around 15,000 dogs each year, with the goal of reaching more than 90% of the local dog population.

The initiative will also provide free sterilization for at least 1,200 dogs annually. Alongside supporting animal welfare, the population management program is intended to contribute to longer-term rabies control by helping manage the local dog population.

Education will form another major part of the program. AWARE will expand its PAWS Clubs, which promote animal welfare and responsible interactions with animals. The organization plans to train 170 teachers across 85 schools and reach more than 50,000 students with information about rabies prevention, safe behavior around dogs and responsible pet care.

The focus on children is important because they are among those most affected by rabies, particularly in rural communities where access to healthcare and veterinary services can be limited.

Boehringer Ingelheim and AWARE are using a One Health approach that connects animal health, human health and community wellbeing. By focusing on rabies prevention in dogs, the partners aim to reduce the risk of infection in people while also improving access to veterinary services and supporting animal welfare.

The project builds on AWARE’s existing rabies prevention work in Zimbabwe. The organizations said the expanded program will strengthen local veterinary services and community engagement while supporting long-term rabies control.

The collaboration is part of broader global efforts to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies. By combining mass dog vaccination with sterilization and education, the partners aim to develop a sustainable approach that can help protect communities in areas where rabies remains a serious public health concern.