Boehringer Ingelheim and MyOHUN Champions SD4G (Sustainable Development for Generations) in rural Bintulu to Educate and Protect Communities in Support of Zero Human Rabies Deaths by 2030.
Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia today launched the 2025 phase of its Stop Rabies campaign in Bintulu, Sarawak, rallying communities, youth leaders, and veterinary experts to combat one of Malaysia’s most urgent but preventable public health threats.
Since the rabies outbreak in Sarawak began in 2017, 77 lives have been lost to the disease, most due to a lack of awareness or delayed treatment following animal bites. Rabies is a disease that is 100% preventable through timely vaccination and proper care. Yet in Sarawak, particularly in rural communities, it remains a daily risk to both pets and people.
“Rabies is a disease we have the knowledge and tools to defeat. Yet, too many lives are still being lost unnecessarily,” said Dr Kam Kok Yen, Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia. “Through Stop Rabies, we are empowering communities with life-saving knowledge and vaccines, ensuring Malaysia takes decisive steps toward achieving Zero by 2030.”
Education as the Catalyst for Change
On 16 August 2025, the Rumah Jungan Longhouse in Bintulu became the heart of rabies education, with students, teachers, and residents participated in an interactive Rabies Education Programme designed to build awareness and inspire action.
Participants rotated through five experiential learning stations led by veterinary experts and community educators:
- What is Rabies? — Understanding symptoms, how it spreads, and why prevention matters.
- Bite Wound Care — Hands-on demonstrations on immediate steps after a bite or scratch.
- Responsible Pet Ownership — The importance of annual vaccination and safe handling of animals.
- Dog Behaviour — How to prevent bites by recognising signs of stress or aggression.
- Community Action — Mobilising families and neighbours to create a rabies-safe environment.
A virtual “Train the Trainer” session was held earlier in June 2025, titled “Rabies Hero Ambassador”. The program, which has reached out to more than 21,000 students and 290 teachers, involved participants from seven districts, Lundu, Bau, Kuching, Padawan, Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Bintulu. During the session, children practised safety drills on how to behave around unfamiliar dogs, while teachers were equipped with tools to bring rabies prevention lessons into their classrooms. Parents also learned practical wound-care techniques, reinforcing the message that knowledge is the first vaccine against rabies.
This programme was delivered in partnership with the Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN), with support from the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS), the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), and the University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Sarawak.
Community & Collaboration in Action
The education programme was complemented by a vaccination drive supported by DVSS at Rumah Jungan, ensuring pets and strays in the surrounding community received protection.
The initiative was supported by Yang Berhormat Tuan Iskandar Turkee, ADUN Jepak, and Encik Jungan Anak Mitoh, Tuai Rumah Rumah Jungan, who joined residents, veterinary teams, and volunteers on the ground.
“Sarawak has shown that when government, science, and our communities stand together, we can make real progress in stopping rabies,” said YB Tuan Iskandar Turkee. “From the longhouses of Bintulu to the wider world stage, the message is simple but powerful: rabies is preventable, and together, we can protect every family and every community.
“For us in the longhouse, pets are part of our family. This campaign gives us the knowledge and tools to keep our children and our animals safe,” said Encik Jungan. “It shows that when a community comes together, we can protect everyone.”
Dr Nur Indah Ahmad, Deputy Coordinator of MyOHUN, added: “The fight against rabies is a shared responsibility. From families to feeders to frontliners, everyone has a role to play. When communities unite, rabies can be stopped.”
The vaccination drive exemplifies Malaysia’s gotong-royong spirit, proving that collective action is key to achieving a rabies-free Sarawak.
Youth Champions for a Rabies-Free Malaysia
On 17 August 2025, the campaign continues with a physical Rabies Heroes Ambassador Programme at Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS), where seven youth champions from high-risk districts will showcase their innovative rabies prevention projects.
Their initiatives include:
- A TikTok awareness campaign to educate peers about rabies myths and prevention.
- A school-based “Pet Care Club” that organises annual vaccination checks and awareness drives.
- A community-led monitoring group to ensure strays in their district are vaccinated and cared for.
These young leaders will be recognised as Rabies Heroes Ambassadors, highlighting their vital role as the next generation of advocates carrying Malaysia toward the Zero by 2030 goal.
Towards Malaysia’s Zero by 2030 Goal
Malaysia’s fight against rabies is part of the global Zero by 30 mission, led by the World Health Organization and supported by international partners. Boehringer Ingelheim’s Stop Rabies campaign demonstrates how local action in Sarawak contributes to a global movement to eliminate human rabies deaths by 2030.
Anchored in Boehringer Ingelheim’s Sustainable Development for Generations (SD4G) framework, the campaign reflects the company’s long-term commitment to More Health — improving human and animal health hand in hand with communities.
