More than 109,741 pets vaccinated in 2024 thanks to the RACE project.

The Rabies Control and Elimination （RACE） project has been one of the tools used to combat rabies in Cameroon for the past two years. On 25 March 2025, those involved in implementing the project took part in the 3rd governance coordination meeting at the Centre Pasteur du Cameroun CPC）.

This was an opportunity for Dr Rodrigue POUEME to present the results achieved by RACE in 2024. The presentation was made in the presence of Dr Mirdad Kazanji, Director General of the CPC, representatives of technical and financial partner organisations） such as Pr Hervé Bourhy, international scientific coordinator of the project, Mrs Elisabeth BIDONGUE, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Emerging and Re-emerging Zoonoses, and Dr Serge POUAM, representative of the World Organisation for Animal Health（OMSA). Other stakeholders working for partner ministries and administrations (MINEPIA, MINFOF, MINDDEVEL, LANAVET……) enhanced the quality of the discussions by their presence.

With regard to the partnership with stakeholders and community participation component, 58 administrative authorities and 136 traditional authorities were made aware of the RACE project and the importance of their involvement in achieving the objectives set;

About surveillance :

75 heads of veterinary and human health services trained in understanding national rabies issues;179 veterinary and community health service staff trained in the integrated surveillance-response system

404 animal vaccinators trained, 109,741 pets vaccinated, including 95,212 dogs, 1,480 cats and 349 monkeys.

Talking about patient care and access to post-exposure prophylaxis :

138 healthcare workers have been trained in post-exposure prophylaxis.

In 2025, the RACE project aims to achieve the following objectives: promoting the results of the project and sharing experience, drawing up a study on the role of dog markets in the ecology of rabies in Cameroon, continuing surveillance activities and organising a mass vaccination campaign.

The RACE project is being implemented in the Centre and Far North regions of Cameroon, specifically in the departments of Mayo-Danay, Diamaré, Mayo-Kani, Mayo-Tsanaga, Lékié, Mefou and Afamba, Mefou and Akono, Nyong and So’o and Nyong and Kellé.