THE AFYA PROGRAM
The Afya Program is a global non-profit initiative supported by MSD Animal Health. Since 1996, the Afya Program has donated millions of canine rabies vaccines to partners around the world, helping protect animals, families and futures. Together with our partners Rabies Free Africa and Mission Rabies, we’re moving closer to a rabies-free world.
MILESTONES AND SUCCESSES
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.
1996
Partnership with Professor Sarah
Cleaveland to support the Serengeti
research project.
2004–2006
Donations increased as more local
organisations contributed. Serengeti
research project renamed ‘Afya
Serengeti’ (Afya is Swahili for ‘health’).
2007–2012
The programme continued to expand
and became an official global donation and research project.
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’.
2016
Celebrated the milestone
of 2 million doses donated.
2017
Mission Rabies eliminates rabies
in Ranchi, India.
Through MSD research support,
RFA works with communities to develop
a passive cooling device to keep vaccines
at the correct temperature in remote regions
where refrigeration is not possible. This allows
communities to administer rabies vaccines
throughout the year, greatly increasing the
number of dogs vaccinated.
2018
‘Afya Serengeti’ changes name
to ‘Rabies Free Africa’.
Through MSD research support,
RFA works with communities to develop
a passive cooling device to keep vaccines
at the correct temperature in remote regions
where refrigeration is not possible. This allows
communities to administer rabies vaccines
throughout the year, greatly increasing the
number of dogs vaccinated.
2019
Celebrated the milestone
of 3 million doses donated.
Through MSD research support,
RFA works with communities to develop
a passive cooling device to keep vaccines
at the correct temperature in remote regions
where refrigeration is not possible. This allows
communities to administer rabies vaccines
throughout the year, greatly increasing the
number of dogs vaccinated.
2021
The Afya Program marks 25 years
of supporting rabies elimination efforts
in underserved parts of the world.
2022
Celebrated the milestone of
5 million doses donated.
2023
Celebrated the milestone of
10 years partnering with Mission Rabies.
2024
Celebrated the milestone
of 6 million doses donated.
2025
Celebrated the milestone
of 7 million doses donated.
TODAY
The Afya Program celebrates
30 years of progress, supporting
research and donating 8 million doses.
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.
