Latin America Caribbean (LAC) Award Competition

The Alliance for Rabies Control, together with the Pan American Health Organization / Veterinary Public Health / PANAFTOSA, is hosting a competition for the best rabies prevention and control event for World Rabies Day (WRD) in Latin America and the Caribbean. A PAHO certificate will be awarded to each winning team, along with a WRD prize of US$ 1,000, to be spent on materials for the following year’s World Rabies Day 2011 project.

Why This Competition?

The competition is intended as a learning experience for the competing teams, encouraging them to Work Together to Make Rabies History!   World Rabies Day focuses on raising awareness of the impact of human and animal rabies, how easily the virus can be prevented, and how to eliminate the main global sources. Successful efforts in the Americas, for example, have shown that rabies can be eliminated in dogs. Throughout the region, the number of human and canine cases has been reduced by 90%, and the region expects to achieve its goal of eliminating dog-transmitted rabies.

Who Is Eligible?

All groups (governments, universities, neighborhood communities and others) or individuals can apply.

When and Where Do I Submit Information on My Event?

  • When: The competition will consider all Latin American and Caribbean events submitted from 1 August – 31 December 2010.
  • Where: Submit your event report to !Please, turn on JavaScript or go to the contact us page! using the Award Competition Application

What Do the Competition Judges Need from Me?

Fill in everything on the Application Form, include the following:

  1. Name of team leader, institution, and/or group: Please include your complete mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
  2. Objectives of your event
  3. Area of interest (Animal control, education, surveillance, etc.)
  4. Number of people reached through your event (estimate)
  5. Summary of your event (max 300 words)
  • Short description
  • How does your event address rabies control issues? What makes your approach different from others?
  • Could your event be used as a model for other groups working towards eliminating rabies?

When the judging process begins in early 2011, you may be asked to submit photographs and other evidence of your event, so please take photographs if you can, and keep any media/press reports on your event.

Possible Ideas for Your Event

Events could involve improved animal control and vaccination programs, educational initiatives, expanding epidemiological surveillance,  improving rabies diagnosis or making people more aware of the rabies problem.

You know your own area and how best to address rabies issues there, and the information you give us is of enormous importance in putting together a worldwide picture of rabies issues from a local perspective. Here are just a few ideas to help you with your event:

 1. Disseminating information on World Rabies Day

  • Creating and distributing a poster on rabies prevention
  • Adding the logo, link,  and/or information on World Rabies Day to your organization’s website
  • Working with the press to disseminate information on World Rabies Day
  • Announcing World Rabies Day through institutional publications, meetings, and conferences
  • Putting the World Rabies Day logo on shipments to appropriate organizations connected with animal-health, etc.

2. Campaigning to promote rabies awareness, aimed at...

  • Pet owners
  • School-age children
  • Clinicians
  • Veterinarians
  • Veterinary students
  • Public health students
  • Medical students
  • Animal shelter workers
  • Travelers
  • The media
  • The general public, especially in areas where there are large stray dog populations

3. Campaigning for pet vaccination

  • In veterinary clinics
  • In stores that sell animals or products for animals
  • In animal shelters

4. Educating the public on risk of wildlife rabies

  • Protection against bats and measures for preventing them from entering homes.
  • Leaving wild animals in the wild and not keeping them as pets or domestic animals

5. Organizing or participating in World Rabies Day events

  • Vaccination campaigns, possibly looking at innovative ways of reaching areas where vaccination is most needed
  • Activities for animal population control (for example, spay/neuter clinics)
  • Educational materials, community meetings and seminars
  • Pet parades and walks
  • Special events, such as “Rock and Roll for Rabies Control” concerts, dances, festivals, “Run for Rabies,” etc.

Online Resources

How Will I Know if I Have Won?

Information about the three winning events will be announced in early to mid 2011 on the World Rabies Day website 

For More Information

Contact Jane Coutts ( !Please, turn on JavaScript or go to the contact us page!)