SAFE Sindh Rabies Program Concludes Training of Master Trainers : Protecting lives through Surveillance, Awareness, Free Immunoprophylaxis, and Emergency Response to Rabies

The SAFE Sindh Rabies Program, a collaborative initiative of the Government of Sindh and Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), has successfully concluded its 1st batch five-day Training of Master Trainers, conducted simultaneously at the Rabies Prevention and Training Center, Indus University Hospital Karachi, and Dr. Sikandar Ali Mandhro Civil Hospital, Badin . This marks a significant milestone in strengthening rabies prevention and response across the province.

Launched with the objective of building a robust and coordinated system to achieve zero rabies death from Rabies, the program follows the SAFE framework—Surveillance, Awareness, Free Immunoprophylaxis, and Emergency Response. Over the course of five days, the training brought together 22 healthcare professionals from 10 hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad Divisions, combining strong theoretical foundations with intensive hands-on clinical practice.

The program began with foundational sessions, including opening remarks by Dr. Abdul Bari Khan , President IHHN, who emphasized the urgent need for a system-based approach to tackle rabies—a preventable yet fatal disease. This was followed by an expert-led session by Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, who shared insights on the current rabies situation in Pakistan and guided participants on standardized protocols for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), setting the stage for a structured learning journey.

The training was led by Muhammad Aftab Gohar , Manager, Rabies Prevention and Training Center, Indus University Hospital Karachi, Certified from WHO, Institute Pasture(Amol) & QSMI Bangkok, who served as the technical lead on Rabies Prevention. With his extensive training expertise, he played a key role in training and mentoring the Master Trainers throughout the training, ensuring the delivery of WHO advanced recommendations, standardized, high-quality clinical practices.

From Day 2 onwards, the focus shifted towards practical, hands-on training at both training sites in Karachi and Badin. Participants were trained in wound care, wound classification, patient assessment, risk factor analysis and the administration of anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). Equal emphasis was placed on proper documentation and patient counseling to ensure complete and quality patient care.

As the training progressed, participants engaged in real-life clinical scenarios, strengthening their decision-making and practical skills under expert supervision. By Day 4, Master Trainers transitioned to independent clinical practice, confidently performing procedures while being assessed against WHO standard guidelines to ensure readiness for managing rabies and dog bite cases effectively.

The final day marked the successful completion of the training program, where certificates were awarded to Master Trainers at both locations in recognition of their dedication and achievement. These trained professionals are now equipped not only to deliver quality clinical care but also to cascade their knowledge and skills to healthcare workers across more than 278 health facilities for Rabies & PEP management in Sindh.

This Training of Master Trainers represents a critical step towards building a sustainable and scalable model for rabies prevention. By empowering frontline healthcare providers, the SAFE Sindh initiative is strengthening the public health system and moving closer to the goal of zero rabies deaths in the province.

The SAFE Sindh Rabies Program reflects a shared commitment to protecting communities, improving access to life-saving treatment, and ensuring that no life is lost to a preventable disease like rabies.