Together, Let’s End Rabies – Every Bite Matters – Pakistan & Gulf Economist

Rabies is among the oldest known infectious diseases, yet it remains one of the deadliest. Each year, the virus claims nearly 59,000 lives worldwide, with the highest burden in Asia and Africa. Despite being 100% preventable through timely medical intervention, rabies continues to haunt vulnerable communities where access to treatment is limited or delayed. Tragically, almost half of those who die are children under 15 years old.

In Pakistan, rabies claims an estimated 1,000 lives every year. Many of these cases occur in rural areas, where stray dog populations are high, and life-saving post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is often out of reach. Most victims are children, attacked while playing outside, walking to school, or simply going about their daily routines. The disease not only ends young lives but also leaves families in grief, burdened by the knowledge that timely treatment could have saved their child.

This year’s World Rabies Day theme, “Act Now: You, Me, Community,” is a reminder that the fight against rabies is not just a medical challenge but a social responsibility. Rabies doesn’t just kill, it inflicts one of the most painful deaths known in medicine, while also exposing the cracks in our healthcare systems and community safety.

The story of ten-year-old Naureen illustrates both the threat and the hope. While accompanying her mother to the market, Naureen was suddenly attacked by a stray dog. The bite caused severe bleeding and immediate fear of rabies, a disease for which no cure exists once symptoms appear. Her father, a daily-wage worker, could not afford costly private treatment. Instead, Naureen was taken to a ChildLife-managed emergency room.

There, a trained nurse quickly assessed her wound and rushed her into treatment. Following strict international protocols, her wound was washed thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes, a crucial but often neglected step. She then received the anti-rabies vaccination immediately, ensuring that the virus had no chance to take hold. Her family was counseled about completing the vaccination schedule and given follow-up guidance. This swift intervention saved her life.

Naureen’s survival is a direct result of timely action and accessible emergency care. Unfortunately, thousands of children across Pakistan are not as fortunate. Many families, unaware of the urgency, either fail to seek immediate treatment or rely on harmful traditional remedies. Others live in areas where vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) are not available around the clock.

ChildLife Foundation is working to change that reality. In 2025 alone, the organization has treated more than 11,000 children with dog-bite injuries across Pakistan. Through its network of 14 emergency rooms and 300 telemedicine satellite centers under public-private partnership with the government, ChildLife ensures 24/7 access to rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin. Trained doctors, nurses, and telemedicine support staff not only deliver treatment but also educate families on wound care, the importance of completing vaccination schedules, and the need for timely follow-up.

The fight against rabies requires both immediate and long-term strategies. On the individual level, every parent and caregiver must know the lifesaving steps: wash dog-bite wounds with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, seek emergency care without delay, and ensure vaccination is started and completed. On the community and policy level, governments and organizations must ensure availability of vaccines, expand treatment centers, control stray dog populations, and raise public awareness.

Globally, countries like the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have shown that coordinated efforts between government, NGOs, and communities can drastically reduce rabies deaths. Pakistan has the same potential, if we act together.

World Rabies Day 2025 is a call to action for everyone. Rabies is not a disease we have to accept; it is entirely preventable. By supporting initiatives such as ChildLife’s Rabies Prevention Drive and by spreading awareness within our families and communities, we can ensure no child dies from a dog bite. Every bite matters, every child matters, and together, we can consign rabies to history.

The Author is Medical Director, ChildLife Foundation