Fighting rabies in Madagascar: Dispatches from one veterinarian
Dr. Charity Gottfredsen, a Boehringer Ingelheim veterinarian, traveled recently from her home in Chicago to Madagascar, an island nation off the coast of southeastern Africa. She made the trip to help administer some of 75,000 doses of rabies vaccine that Boehringer Ingelheim donated in Madagascar as part of its Shots for Good initiative to fight rabies around the world.
She kept a journal on her trip, which happened a few weeks before World Rabies Day – Sat. Sept. 28. Read excerpts below.
Day One: Traveling from the United States to Madagascar
I’m excited and a little nervous for the trip to Madagascar, and I’m looking forward to help vaccinate as many dogs and cats against rabies as possible. I’ve packed towels, leashes and other items for the clinics. Right now I’m 18 hours into the journey; all that is left is the flight from Paris to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.
Day Two: First impressions
The plane landed in Madagascar a bit after 10 p.m., and I managed to find my taxi driver among dozens of other drivers. What I saw on the streets was poverty, a few people, some vendors selling fruit, and dogs running around. I tried to sleep, but was wide-awake in my new surroundings.
Day Three: Getting ready
Today I met with Terence, my key contact from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, and attended a planning meeting with several local veterinarians. We reviewed the items that will be present at each vaccine site – vaccines, syringes, gloves, a megaphone, and a GPS transponder that we will use to record info about each animal we vaccinate. The agricultural coordinators, veterinarians, and staff are incredibly appreciative of the doses of rabies vaccine, and support that they have received for this campaign on the island.
Day Four: A bumpy ride
Today we got started with a long drive to Lake Alaotra. I skipped breakfast and packed a protein bar. On the way to our destination, we stopped to load equipment and vaccines into the SUV, and picked up some necessities (batteries, water, tape) and snacks for the long drive.
It took 10 hours to go 150 miles. The roads were unpredictable and bumpy – it felt like an uncomfortable amusement park ride, with not enough padding on the seat. Half-way to our destination, we broke down on the side of the road.
After some tape, a new wire, and a refill of oil and other fluids, we were off again, zigzagging slowly down a road with lots of potholes.
The trees and hills were beautiful; everything was so green and pretty, even on a cloudy and slightly rainy day. People walked from one village to the next, carrying a variety of items, often on their head. They rode bicycles and motorcycles, too. We drove past rice fields, rivers, streams, isolated villages, and lots of cattle.
It was getting late when we finally arrived near Lake Alaotra. We unloaded the vaccines into a mini-refrigerator and checked into the hotel. There was no place open for dinner so I ate cheese crackers and fruit snacks, and went to sleep under a mosquito net.
Day Five: We vaccinated close to 1,000 dogs and cats today
For the first time in several nights, I slept well. I got up at 5:15 a.m. – before the alarm. I’m excited: We are vaccinating dogs and cats today! After breakfast we drove an hour, picked up a veterinarian and drove another 30 minutes to the first village.
We hung posters about rabies to inform the village about our vaccine clinic and got to work. Several people were waiting in line with their dogs and cats, many of which were not used to being handled. People brought cats in rice bags, or straw baskets, and carried dogs or led them with makeshift leashes.
Our objectives: do not get bit, vaccinate quickly and record pet information. It was chaotic, but we vaccinated close to 1,000 dogs and cats today.
Day Six: Education about rabies even gets to remote villages
The village today was smaller than yesterday. Combined with the two mobile units and the stationary clinic, we vaccinated over 300 dogs and cats. We also walked to a tiny village down the road and vaccinated animals there.
It is evident that owners are doing what they can to care for their animals, and that education against rabies is even getting to the remote villages.
On the way home, we stopped to vaccinate ten dogs, five cats and several kittens in a house in the middle of nowhere. The owners were so appreciative and grateful. The family heard a radio ad promoting the rabies campaign and flagged our SUV down while we were driving home.
Day Seven: It is incredible how far people walk … to get their pets vaccinated
At our first stop today, people were in line with more than 50 pets. It was incredible to see so many people in line to make sure that their dogs and cats were vaccinated.
Our second site was by a railroad and across from a mint green house with bright orange and red shutters. People were waiting with a few dogs and cats. At our final stop, we set up a small table, got the vaccines ready, and immediately the village was swarming with people, children, dogs and cats.
After today’s clinics, we met with a government official who was pleased to hear that we had vaccinated more than 3,000 pets so far.
Day Eight: Handing out candies
Today we broke into two groups. The first group stayed at one location, the second drove to several smaller villages and vaccinated a lot of dogs and cats.
At a few villages, with permission, we handed out candies. It was fun to see so many smiling and laughing faces.
We finished the vaccine clinics by about 2 p.m. and were home by 3:30 pm. I took a short nap and packed my suitcase; I plan to leave most of my clothes and shoes in Madagascar.
Day Nine: Everyone is so appreciative
This morning we left at 3 a.m. for the long drive back to the capital. I slept for several hours, stretched out in the back seat. The bumps in the road are now almost soothing; I don’t notice them. Laying there, in the dark, gave me a lot of time to think about the past week.
What an incredible group of veterinarians and staff I worked with to vaccinate nearly 5,000 animals. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to see a beautiful, unique country, and to help vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies, to help protect the people of Madagascar.
You can tell everyone is so appreciative of the rabies vaccines, and they will use every dose that Boehringer Ingelheim has donated to help eliminate rabies from Madagascar.
This has been an amazing experience. I am so glad to work for a company that does so much to give back to communities, and to improve the lives of pets and the people who love them.
