Hanoi rabies prevention project wins World Rabies Day Awards 2026

The GARC presented the World Rabies Day Awards 2026 to Bui Thi Duyen, the director of SBCC Vietnam, for a pilot project in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The initiative aims to prevent rabies by transitioning people who slaughter and sell dog and cat meat into safer livelihoods. The project operates in 14 wards and uses a One Health approach to balance human health, animal welfare, and community economic support.

The Hanoi People's Committee approved the plan in July last year, with the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment leading the coordination. Various partners, including the Hanoi Sub-department of Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine and the Soi Dog Foundation, provide technical guidance and international experience on livelihood transitions. Local authorities and veterinary staff visit businesses door to door to review operations and encourage owners to follow regulations.

SBCC Vietnam works with traders to teach new skills and manage behavior change communication. As a result of these efforts, 28 businesses have closed and 25 have registered to change their business models. The ward of Giang Vo became the first area in the project to have no remaining dog or cat meat businesses. The project serves as a model for other provinces and cities interested in rabies prevention linked to sustainable economic development.

This work addresses a major public health challenge in Vietnam, where the country recorded 54 rabies deaths by mid-September.