Washington, D.C., 24 June 2009.

Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, PAHO Director signed a memorandum of understanding between PAHO/WHO and the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC), through their Executive Director, Deborah J Briggs; which outline their plan for cooperative activities to promote rabies prevention, surveillance, control and elimination.

The sharing of networks and educational materials that are needed in most parts of the world that are currently suffering under the burden of animal and human rabies was an important area of cooperation established during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

In this regards PAHO/WHO and ARC will work together combining their expertise in rabies surveillance and control, rabies awareness, zoonoses, animal welfare, domestic animal population management and responsible pet ownership education in a joint technical cooperation for the development of key policies.

Both institutions are planning to organize global conferences to bring together experts and officials in rabies control, domestic animal population management and responsible ownership. Collecting information on ongoing programs to be distributed globally as well as distributing educational material to rabies endemic countries within the continent is other of the relevant areas of work.

PAHO/WHO and the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC) share objectives in the area of rabies surveillance, prevention, control and elimination and promotion of human and animal health and welfare, and environmental protection.

PAHO and ARC have been coordinating several activities in areas of common interest, particularly the joint organization and promotion of the World Rabies Day in the Americas

PAHO/WHO is an international public health organization with more than 100 years of experience working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. It serves as the specialized agency for health of the Inter-American System, for the Organization of American States (OAS). As the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, PAHO/WHO enjoys international recognition as a specialized public health agency of the United Nations.

ARC is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating rabies throughout the world by raising awareness about the continued presence of this neglected and deadly disease, supporting rabies control programs and promoting educational initiatives in order to save the unnecessary loss of human life.