In this episode of One Health Wednesdays, Dr. Ginger Dixon speaks with Dr. Ife Akanbi, a public health veterinarian, lecturer, and rabies educator from Nigeria. Dr. Akanbi shares how she integrates community engagement, vaccination programs, and policy advocacy into a systems-based approach to rabies prevention.
Her work reaches dog owners, hunters, school children, market traders, and healthcare workers, adapting education and intervention strategies to cultural contexts. She addresses challenges such as mistrust, limited vaccine access, and traditional practices that increase rabies risk. Initiatives like mobile vaccination clinics, the Zero Rabies app, and youth engagement programs help bridge gaps between policy, community needs, and available resources.
Dr. Akanbi’s vision focuses on strengthening laws for responsible dog ownership, improving vaccine distribution systems, and fostering collaboration between animal, human, and environmental health sectors to reduce rabies cases and strengthen One Health systems.
🎧 Listen now to hear how coordinated systems and culturally informed strategies can save lives.
We’ll add these links to the show notes for reference.
So Sad! She lost Her First Son to Rabies
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_worldrabiesday-endrabiesnow-onehealth4all-activity-7113262281471275008-K2f8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y
A Nursing Mother Dies of Rabies Shortly after Delivering her Baby
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_rabies-rages-lets-join-forces-to-combat-activity-7279833134433529856-pg6w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y
Rabies Education for Children
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_rabiesawareness-publichealtheducation-healthcommunication-activity-7320816245207887872-V0ZQ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y
Saving Lives with Rabies Vaccine
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_worldimmunizationweek-worldimmunizationweek2025-activity-7325081481121267712-Q50U?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y
Antimicrobial Resistance Club launch
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_antimicrobialresistance-amr-antimicrobialstewardship-activity-7334156114135035904-U7_t?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y
Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Campaign
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ifeoluwapo-akanbi-7568a9101_fcahptib61stanniversary-amr-amu-activity-7313339491342020610-YOFr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAABnwWvIBqgUI5KTrqt3Z3uegvp5XIb0Ug7Y