Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The aim of the study was to look into the implementation of guidelines of dog
population management (DPM), published by WHO & WSPA, ICAM-coalition
and OIE, in Malawi and Peru. Fieldstudies with interviews with representatives of
authorities, international organizations and local NGOs were conducted in these
two countries. The conclusions from the inteviews were that guidelines are only
partially implemented in both countries, but the problems differ in between. No
comprehensive national plan for DPM exist in either country and there are no
executive group taking full responsibility. In Malawi a NGO have taken the
responsibilty to try to pilot a program and involve authorities to coordinate and
harmonize there work. However, lack of information about the dog population
and the rabies situation as well as lack of resources, makes it very difficult to
succeed with DPM. Insufficient information also makes it difficult to evaluate any
rabies vaccination program. In Peru on the other hand, they have good knowledge
about the number of dogs and have also succeeded very well in rabies control.
Even if they lack an executive working group, they have a legisltaion supporting
DPM and a direction working with eg. education programs for children. They
have a comprehensive rabies program which shows that rabies control is indeed
possible but instead they have other problems with diseases as echinococcosis. In
both countries reproduction control is totally dependent on the work done by
NGOs. The need is overwhelming and cost-benefit analysis very important when
resources are limited.