One Health Units for Humans, Environment, Animals and Livelihoods (HEAL)

Over 30 million pastoralists in Ethiopia, Somalia

and Kenya (Horn of Africa) are affected by

inadequate access to essential healthcare and a

poorly developed veterinary service for their

livestock. This is mainly because of factors

associated with their lifestyles such as dispersed

settlement patterns, seasonal mobility and social

and economic features that perpetuate the

underutilization of essential services even when

they are available. The services provided are

insufficiently adapted to the needs and contexts of

the communities. Moreover, the health system and

policies in the Horn of Africa do not sufficiently take

the unique context of pastoralist communities into

account. The situation is compounded by recurrent

drought, flooding and human and livestock disease

outbreaks which cross boundaries. Switzerland will

address this situation by promoting One Health

services, which address human, animal and

ecosystem health in an integrated way. The Swiss

value added in this field is based on longstanding

experience in livestock management and the Swiss

expertise in One Health.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

Improved community capacity on natural

resource management for rangeland health

and One Health. Detailed plans for gender-sensitive One

Health Units set-up, both infrastructures

(‘hardware’) and mode of operating

(‘software’).

Public health, veterinary and NRM service

providers supported to operationalize and

scale up different types of One Health Units

operational and scaled up.

Documented evidence and lessons learnt.

Regional community of practice established

and strengthened for contributing to policy

discussions. At least 6 meetings/workshops

involving donors and government actors

(including policy makers) will be conducted.

A minimum of 2 policy briefs developed and

published.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

During the inception phase of the HEAL project

priorities and expectations of the beneficiaries,

partners and government were explored across

the three countries. Accordingly, the following

milestones were achieved.

* The one-health policy context and needs at

strategic level were mapped for the three

target countries.

* Pastoralist community representatives were

supported to establish 8 Multi-Stakeholder

Innovation Platforms in Ethiopia and Somalia.

* The vulnerability and capacity needs pertinent

to one-health were identified.

Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse is the main

contract partner. Comitato Collaborazione Medica

and International Livestock Research Institute are

also consortium members.