Rundu residents, particularly children, are dedicated to getting their pets vaccinated against rabies.

During a visit by the NBC News team to various vaccination points around Ndama, children were seen bringing their dogs, cats, and guinea pigs for their shots.

Kavango East Region state veterinarian Dr. Ludgerus Amushila explains that the children attend these events because they are the primary pet owners.

The vaccination campaign, which began on July 13, typically takes place during school holidays, allowing children to take responsibility by bringing their pets to different vaccination sites in and around the town.

Some children interviewed by NBC News mentioned they learned about the campaign from their parents, on the radio, and through the state veterinarian.

Dr. Amushila noted that their office often goes through neighborhoods with a megaphone to announce the dates and locations of the vaccination campaigns.

So far, approximately 1,300 pets have been vaccinated in Rundu since the campaign started.

Between 2023 and 2024, four people died from confirmed rabies in Kavango East, while 13 people died from suspected rabies between 2019 and 2023.

Dr. Amushila indicated that the majority of those presenting with rabies are from across the border, and they are mostly children.