Most, if not all, of the regional activities and workshops on rabies control unanimously identified disease control as one of the significant priorities requiring multi-sectoral coordination, acknowledging the importance of utilising available DPM tools such as the SAM4DPM to strengthen dog-mediated rabies elimination efforts. The webinar’s main objective was to emphasise that the path towards a rabies-free future in the region is a direct consequence of embedding DPM at a central position within a country’s National Action Plan for rabies, and to ensure that implementation is robust and appropriately tailored to suit dog population dynamics in any particular country.
Polo Dalla Villa provided an overview of the WOAH TAHC Chapter 7.7 on DPM, discussing the practical, holistic approach to improving the welfare of dogs and achieving harmonious co-existence with people and their environment. In addition, he focused on the main features of the WOAH Self-Assessment and Monitoring for Dog Population Management (SAM4DPM) tool, which is designed to facilitate and refine Member States’ understanding of their national situation, and to progressively monitor and self-assess the level of compliance with WOAH standards on dog population management.
The Sub-Regional for Arabian Gulf webinar “Enhancing Rabies Control through Strategic Dog Population Management (DPM)
