Rabies Threatens Bali, Thousands of Children Can Be Educated to Prevent Emergency Situations

Rabies remains a serious public health threat in Bali, with children as the most at-risk group. Based on data from the Bali Provincial BPBD as of July 2025, more than 34,000 cases of rabies-transmissible animal bites (GHPR) have been recorded. In response to this emergency situation, Boehringer Ingelheim together with the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) managed to complete an intensive education program for 12,356 elementary school students in 85 schools in the Tabanan and Gianyar regions.

The program entitled Sustainable Development for Generation (SD4G) 2025 - Stop Rabies Education exceeded the initial target of 10,000 participants. Through an interactive approach, this program aims to change the paradigm of children from "fear" to "understand and be alert" when interacting with animals in their environment.

Education as the Frontline Guard The World Health Organization (WHO) data states that 40% of global rabies victims are children. In Bali, the bite frequency reaching an average of 183 cases per day shows that vaccination alone is not enough; behavioral changes at the grassroots level are needed.

"Education today is the key to a safer future. We see a significant increase in understanding, where the average student score rises from 5 to 8 after participating in the program. They are now more confident in maintaining their safety and are able to share this knowledge with their families," said Argho Das, President Director of Boehringer Ingelheim Indonesia.

Strategic Collaboration for Wide Impact The uniqueness of this program lies in the method of education that is tailored to children's psychology, ranging from the use of interactive booklets to role-play methods. BAWA, which has educated hundreds of thousands of students in Bali since 2017, has become a strategic partner in reaching school communities in high-case areas such as Tabanan.

Cynthia, Event, Fundraising, and Communication Coordinator BAWA, emphasized the importance of a compassionate approach to prevention. "With a stray dog population of 500,000, people need to understand how to coexist safely. We hope that children not only understand how to prevent rabies, but also grow with a sense of love and concern for animal welfare."

Towards "Zero by 30" Through this initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim and BAWA reaffirm their commitment to support the global mission of "Zero by 30" - namely zero human deaths due to rabies by 2030. This collective effort proves that the synergy between the private sector, non-profit organizations, and the world of education is the main foundation in creating a healthy environment for humans and animals.