Champion in Action – February Spotlight: Mohammed Khamis

 

Tell us a little about yourself and what inspired your journey in rabies prevention and elimination?

I am Mohammed Khamis, a dog health advocate and rabies prevention activist currently living in Egypt. Growing up in Yemen, I witnessed how deeply animal health affects community well-being. Those early experiences inspired me to pursue specialized training in rabies prevention and dog care. Today, I promote awareness, support vaccination campaigns, and advocate for responsible pet ownership.

For me, rabies elimination is more than just work: It is my mission to create a safer, healthier world for both humans and animals.

I am very fortunate that my family fully supports my mission, knowing how important community safety is for me.

 

What motivates you to continue working toward rabies elimination and dog welfare?

My motivation comes from a strong belief that human and animal health are interconnected. I have seen the danger that comes from a lack of awareness and insufficient vaccination efforts. This pushed me to become part of the solution through education, advocacy, and community action. By sharing knowledge and supporting vaccination campaigns, I know that we can  eliminate rabies and improve community well-being. A world free van dog-mediated rabies can be a reality!

 

Please share a moment from your work that made you especially proud?

One of my proudest moments was leading a community awareness campaign that helped shift public misconceptions about rabies vaccinations. After educating pet owners, we saw a significant increase in dogs being vaccinated, reducing the disease risk in the area.

Awareness truly saves lives, and it continues to strengthen my commitment towards rabies elimination and animal welfare.

 

What challenges have you faced in your rabies prevention efforts?

The biggest challenge has been the lack of awareness surrounding rabies and pet care. Many people believed vaccination was unnecessary or too costly, which contributed to the spread of the disease. I addressed this through workshops, awareness events, real-life stories, and free or low-cost vaccination drives. Over time, more people began vaccinating their dogs and understanding the importance of prevention.

I really believe that education, patience, and teamwork are essential to protecting both humans and animals.

 

Were there cultural beliefs or misconceptions that made your work more difficult? How did you address them?

Yes, cultural beliefs are a major barrier. Some communities rely on traditional remedies or doubt the need for vaccinations.

To overcome this, I use culturally sensitive communications, collaborate with community leaders, share real-life success stories, and ensure vaccination campaigns are accessible. As people begin to see fewer rabies cases and healthier dogs, they become more open to the long-term responsibilities of animal welfare. Today, some communities actively promote awareness themselves, proof that change is possible with patience and persistence.

 

If you could change one misconception about rabies, what would it be?

I would change the belief that rabies is unavoidable. In reality, rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination and responsible dog care. Raising awareness saves lives. When communities understand that preventing rabies is a shared responsibility, cases drop and both humans and animals stay safe. As long as people continue to think that animals do not have feelings and keep abusing dogs, dogs will continue to be fearful and aggressive towards people. We cannot break the vicious cycle if we do not first understand.

 

How have GARC’s courses helped you in your work?

The GARC courses greatly enhanced my knowledge and confidence! They equipped me to correct misconceptions, explain the importance of vaccination more clearly, and offer practical prevention and elimination solutions. This new knowledge increased my credibility in the community and encouraged more people to take rabies seriously and vaccinate their pets.

 

What did earning the title Dog Health Champion mean to you?

Becoming a Dog Health Champion boosted both my confidence and credibility. Pet owners became more responsive to advice, and my certificate reassured communities of my commitment to rabies awareness. Most importantly, it connected me to a global network of people working toward rabies elimination, giving me even more motivation to continue spreading awareness and saving lives.