Buri mwaka abantu baremga 500 barumwa n’imbwa mu Rwanda

About the Role

The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has launched a five-year plan (2026-2030) to eliminate rabies, a disease transmitted by dogs, which poses a significant public health concern. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, approximately 500 people are bitten by dogs annually in Rwanda, resulting in 2-3 fatalities each year due to rabies.

Responsibilities

• Implement a five-year strategy (2026-2030) to eradicate rabies in Rwanda.
• Achieve a 70% vaccination rate for large domestic animals, including dogs and cats, by 2030 to prevent rabies transmission.
• Promote responsible dog and cat ownership to protect animal health, prevent rabies transmission to humans and livestock, and maintain community harmony.
• Vaccinate large domestic animals to prevent and control severe diseases that can spread from animals to humans.

Qualifications

RAB has issued 148 import permits and 58 export permits for dogs in 2020-2021, and 386 permits in 2025-2026 for dog imports and exports. George Paul Kamanzi, an RAB official responsible for processing animal import and export permits, emphasizes the use of technology to expedite permit issuance for dog owners and breeders.

Skills

• Address the growing number of dog owners in Rwanda and ensure access to vaccination and veterinary services.
• Manage the increasing demand for dog imports and exports while maintaining strict health and safety standards.

Additional Information

According to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), prompt treatment within 15 minutes of a dog bite can prevent rabies infection in 90% of cases. Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily dogs, and is prevalent worldwide except in Antarctica. It is a fatal disease if symptoms appear, with a typical incubation period of 1-3 months, but can range from a few days to a year.