Evaluation of mass dog vaccination campaign in Techiman, Ghana
8 affiliations
- 1Veterinary Service Directorate, Disease Investigation Farm/Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Techiman, Bono East, Ghana
- 2University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Faculty of Environment and Public Health Education, Public Health Department, Asante-Mampong, Ghana
- 3Animal Health Division, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Animal Research Institute, Accra, Ghana
- 4Department of Animal Resources Development, CSIR College of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana
- 5Ghana Health Service, Municipal Health Directorate, Techiman, Bono East, Ghana
- 6Ghana Health Service, Adisadel Urban Health Centre, Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana
- 7Sunyani Technical University, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Sunyani, Ghana
- 8Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Animal Science, Kumasi, Ghana
Abstract
Background: Across Sub-Saharan Africa, implementation of mass dog vaccination programmes is frequently constrained by inconsistent vaccine procurement, financing limitations, cold-chain requirements, and weaknesses in distribution systems, rather than complete vaccine unavailability. Achieving and sustaining at least 70% vaccination coverage in dog populations is widely recognized as essential for interrupting transmission; however, there is limited operational evidence from municipal campaigns conducted in rapidly urbanizing, resource-constrained settings. We evaluated the implementation and outcomes of a One Health-coordinated free mass dog rabies vaccination campaign conducted in September 2024 in Techiman South Metropolitan, Ghana. Methodology: A mixed-methods post-campaign assessment was undertaken two weeks after campaign completion. Quantitative data were collected from 200 dog-owning households using structured questionnaires, and administrative vaccination records were reviewed to estimate overall coverage. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted with veterinary officers, public health professionals, environmental health personnel, and community leaders involved in campaign delivery. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize household participation and awareness indicators, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Principal findings: Among surveyed households, 59.5% owned more than one dog and 51.5% reported vaccinating at least one dog during the campaign. Awareness that rabies is fatal increased from 45% (self-reported pre-campaign recall) to 75% after the campaign period, while awareness that rabies is preventable increased from 40% to 70%. Administrative records indicated that approximately 5,600 dogs were vaccinated, corresponding to an estimated 70% metropolitan-level coverage based on projected dog population figures. Participants identified strong multisectoral collaboration and World Rabies Day mobilization as key facilitators. Implementation barriers included vaccine supply delays, limited cold-chain capacity, inadequate access for peri-urban communities, and the absence of strategies to vaccinate free-roaming dogs. Conclusions/Significance: The evaluation demonstrated that the Techiman mass dog vaccination campaign achieved administrative vaccination coverage exceeding the internationally recommended threshold while identifying implementation barriers that may influence effective population immunity. The findings highlight the importance of improving vaccine logistics, expanding access to peri-urban communities, strengthening monitoring systems, and incorporating strategies for vaccinating free-roaming dogs during future campaigns. Author summary: Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, yet it can be prevented through vaccination of dogs, which are responsible for nearly all human infections in Africa. Global strategies call for vaccinating at least 70% of dogs each year to stop transmission, but there is limited evidence on how well this works in fast-growing African cities with limited resources. We evaluated a free mass dog rabies vaccination campaign carried out in Techiman, Ghana, using a One Health approach that brought together veterinary services, public health authorities, and community leaders. We interviewed 200 dog-owning households and reviewed official vaccination records. We also spoke with frontline staff involved in the campaign. Official records suggested that roughly three-quarters of the estimated dog population was vaccinated, meeting the recommended coverage threshold. Many households reported improved knowledge about rabies following the campaign. However, not all dog-owning households participated, and free-roaming dogs were not systematically vaccinated. Logistical challenges, including vaccine supply delays and limited access in peri-urban communities, were also identified. Our findings show that coordinated municipal campaigns can reach high vaccination numbers even in resource-limited settings. At the same time, accurate monitoring and inclusion of free-roaming dogs are essential to ensure that reported coverage reflects true protection. Strengthening these components will help Ghana and similar countries move closer to eliminating dog-mediated human rabies.
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BibTeX
@article{dwaah2026evaluation,
title = {{Evaluation of mass dog vaccination campaign in Techiman, Ghana}},
author = {Prince Kyere Dwaah and Sylvia Afriyie Squire and Nana Yaa Awua-Boateng and Denis Dekugmen Yar and David Kando and Abraham Num and Princess Amissah and Helen Djang-Fordjour},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014080},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014080},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Evaluation of mass dog vaccination campaign in Techiman, Ghana
AU - Prince Kyere Dwaah
AU - Sylvia Afriyie Squire
AU - Nana Yaa Awua-Boateng
AU - Denis Dekugmen Yar
AU - David Kando
AU - Abraham Num
AU - Princess Amissah
AU - Helen Djang-Fordjour
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014080
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014080
AB - Background: Across Sub-Saharan Africa, implementation of mass dog vaccination programmes is frequently constrained by inconsistent vaccine procurement, financing limitations, cold-chain requirements, and weaknesses in distribution systems, rather than complete vaccine unavailability. Achieving and sustaining at least 70% vaccination coverage in dog populations is widely recognized as essential for interrupting transmission; however, there is limited operational evidence from municipal campaigns conducted in rapidly urbanizing, resource-constrained settings. We evaluated the implementation and outcomes of a One Health-coordinated free mass dog rabies vaccination campaign conducted in September 2024 in Techiman South Metropolitan, Ghana. Methodology: A mixed-methods post-campaign assessment was undertaken two weeks after campaign completion. Quantitative data were collected from 200 dog-owning households using structured questionnaires, and administrative vaccination records were reviewed to estimate overall coverage. In addition, key informant interviews were conducted with veterinary officers, public health professionals, environmental health personnel, and community leaders involved in campaign delivery. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize household participation and awareness indicators, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Principal findings: Among surveyed households, 59.5% owned more than one dog and 51.5% reported vaccinating at least one dog during the campaign. Awareness that rabies is fatal increased from 45% (self-reported pre-campaign recall) to 75% after the campaign period, while awareness that rabies is preventable increased from 40% to 70%. Administrative records indicated that approximately 5,600 dogs were vaccinated, corresponding to an estimated 70% metropolitan-level coverage based on projected dog population figures. Participants identified strong multisectoral collaboration and World Rabies Day mobilization as key facilitators. Implementation barriers included vaccine supply delays, limited cold-chain capacity, inadequate access for peri-urban communities, and the absence of strategies to vaccinate free-roaming dogs. Conclusions/Significance: The evaluation demonstrated that the Techiman mass dog vaccination campaign achieved administrative vaccination coverage exceeding the internationally recommended threshold while identifying implementation barriers that may influence effective population immunity. The findings highlight the importance of improving vaccine logistics, expanding access to peri-urban communities, strengthening monitoring systems, and incorporating strategies for vaccinating free-roaming dogs during future campaigns. Author summary: Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, yet it can be prevented through vaccination of dogs, which are responsible for nearly all human infections in Africa. Global strategies call for vaccinating at least 70% of dogs each year to stop transmission, but there is limited evidence on how well this works in fast-growing African cities with limited resources. We evaluated a free mass dog rabies vaccination campaign carried out in Techiman, Ghana, using a One Health approach that brought together veterinary services, public health authorities, and community leaders. We interviewed 200 dog-owning households and reviewed official vaccination records. We also spoke with frontline staff involved in the campaign. Official records suggested that roughly three-quarters of the estimated dog population was vaccinated, meeting the recommended coverage threshold. Many households reported improved knowledge about rabies following the campaign. However, not all dog-owning households participated, and free-roaming dogs were not systematically vaccinated. Logistical challenges, including vaccine supply delays and limited access in peri-urban communities, were also identified. Our findings show that coordinated municipal campaigns can reach high vaccination numbers even in resource-limited settings. At the same time, accurate monitoring and inclusion of free-roaming dogs are essential to ensure that reported coverage reflects true protection. Strengthening these components will help Ghana and similar countries move closer to eliminating dog-mediated human rabies.
SN - 1935-2735
ER -