THE AFYA PROGRAM

The Afya Program is a global non-profit initiative supported by MSD Animal Health. For more than 25 years, we have been committed to donating canine rabies vaccines for use in developing regions of the world that so desperately need it. We have dedicated our full support behind the humanitarian efforts of our partners, including Rabies Free Africa and Mission Rabies, and their goal of eliminating canine-mediated rabies.

MILESTONES AND SUCCESSES

More than 6 million doses donated
Lonely dog sadly looking up at the camera. More than 25 Years of Commitment
More than 9 million children and adults educated about rabies

AFYA PROGRAM OVERVIEW VIDEO

See how the Afya Program supports rabies elimination around the world.

OUR ONGOING LEGACY

See where The Afya Program began and where it is today.

A man and boy walk across the Serengeti grassland with a dog.

1996
Partnership with Professor Sarah
Cleaveland to support the Serengeti
research project.

Villagers wait in line to get their dogs vaccinated against rabies.

2004–2006
Donations increased as more local
organisations contributed. Serengeti
research project renamed ‘Afya
Serengeti’ (Afya is Swahili for ‘health’).

Children show off their armband to prove their dogs were vaccinated against rabies.

2007–2012
The programme continued to expand
and became an official global donation project.

Mission Rabies volunteers pose for a group photograph.

2013
Mission Rabies is founded by Dr. Luke Gamble.
MSD Animal Health partners with Mission Rabies.
The overarching name for our initiative is changed to
‘The Afya Program’.

Dogs walk along a dirt road in the Serengeti desert.

2016
The Afya Program marks
2 million rabies vaccines donated.

Rabies Free Ranchi billboard sign announcing that over 70% of local dogs are vaccinated every year.

2017
Mission Rabies eliminates rabies
in Ranchi, India.

A young boy smiles while he holds two dogs, and another boy looks on.

2018
‘Afya Serengeti’ changes name
to ‘Rabies Free Africa’.

Village children gather for a group photo.

2019
The Afya Program celebrates
3 million doses donated.

2021
The Afya Program marks 25 years
of supporting rabies elimination efforts
in underserved parts of the world.

Happy children in India wave at camera.

2022
Celebrated the milestone of
5 million doses donated. 

Celebrated the milestone of
10 years partnering with Mission Rabies.

2023
Celebrated the milestone of
10 years partnering with Mission Rabies.

The Afya program celebrates
the milestone of more than
6 million doses donated.

TODAY
The Afya program celebrates
the milestone of more than
6 million doses donated.

ZERO BY 30

Zero by 30 is a global goal set by the United Against Rabies Forum, dedicated to eliminating human deaths from canine-mediated rabies by the year 2030.