Group work

Through the National Bridging Workshop, Kenya's human and animal health systems use sectors assessments reports to work together under a One Health spirit.

The Tripartite Organizations: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), conducted a joint National Bridging Workshop (NBW) in kenya during the period of 16-19 November 2021. The NBW is a format of workshops enabling countries to further explore possible converging areas, in the two main assessment tools: the International Health Regulations (IHR) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (IHR-MEF) for public health, and the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) framework for animal health. The NBW creates a joint roadmap for the way forward and develop appropriate bridges to facilitate coordination, collaboration and communication between the two sectors to address the zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-environment interface.

The NBW in Kenya provided an excellent opportunity to improve alignment in the capacity building approach and strategies between human and animal health sectors to prepare and respond to zoonotic diseases outbreaks. During the NBW, a structured approach with six sessions using user-friendly material enabled the identification of synergies, the review of gaps and recommendations of previous IHR and PVS reports and the definition of a realistic and achievable roadmap to be used by policy makers for concerted correctives measures and strategic investments in intersectoral collaboration for all technical areas selected. 

The exercise gathered 48 participants (22 participants from Kenya’s Veterinary Services, 24 from the Kenya Ministry of Health and 3 participants from the Environment services) and 10 observers from Chatham House, Public Health England, United States Agency for Ineternational Development (USAID), Global Implementation Solutions, and Universities and bilateral donors. 

The National Bridging Workshop was organised by the Zoonotic Diseases Unit (ZDU) with support from the Tripartite (FAO/WHO/OIE). In the opening ceremony, the representative of the Ministry of  Public Health, Francis Kuria, affirmed the importance of the bridging workshop in enhancing the capacity for Kenya’s preparedness and Response and pledged the support of the Kenya Government to the process and the outcome. The Chief Veterinary Officer, Obadiah Njagi, officially opened the meeting while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to implementation of the One Health Approach and support to the Tripartites programs on the same in Kenya”.

In her remarks, Chadia Wannous, representative of OIE, thanked participants and said that the One Health approach that bring together sectors and disciplines to work jointly to tackle health challenges at the animal-human-environment interfaces provides the opportunity for systemic changes in the way we work to focus more on prevention and address the root causes and drivers of these challenges. NBW is one of the tools that help us to achieve this”.

In his opening remarks, on behalf of the WHO representative, Nollascus Ganda, welcomed the participants and outlined “the support and commitment of WHO to build robust capacities in countries to prevent, detect and respond to zoonotic diseases and other health issues at the human-animal-environment interface”.

National Bridging Workshops provide fruitful intersectoral collaboration

The Tripartite consider that, at country level, the joint use and/or refinement of respective WHO IHR-MEF tools and OIE PVS Pathway would result in better alignment of capacity building approach and strategies between public health sectors. The increasing emergence of infectious zoonotic diseases, that can be transmitted from animal to humans, including Rift Valley fever (RVF), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or the increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), has boosted momentum for the One Health concept, as it is clear that collaboration across sectors can help countries to better address current and emerging health threats and help achieve optimal health outcomes and sustainable development. In Kenya, the ZDU was established in 2012 as a way to operationalize the One Health approach at national level. However, there is a need to elevate the ZDU to a One Health Directorate at a highest political level. It is also important to strengthen, establish and make this approach operational at sub-national level, especially given the decentralization system implemented in the country.

Key findings

In Kenya, this national bridging workshop provided an opportunity for representatives of the human health and animal health services, based on assessments of their performance and weaknesses identified in their respective sectors, to identify coordinated actions to improve the prevention and risk management of zoonotic diseases and other health challenges at the animal-health-and environment interfaces.

The workshop also helped national stakeholders to identify next steps and operational activities for the development and implementation of a joint national action plan with practical activities to strengthen collaboration and coordination between the two sectors, that will ultimately enhance the One Health coordination mechanism in the country that can support better health outcomes for animal, human and the wider environment that we live and interact within.

The NBW has been especially helpful to understanding of the contribution of the veterinary services in the implementation of the IHR (2005) and also enhancing better appreciation of how the results of the PVS Pathway and IHR-MEF can be used to inform strategic planning, capacity building and investment, with the ultimate goal of a national ownership of the One Health approach. 

For more information

Contact:

Tieble Traoré

Technical Officer

World Health Organization

Email: [email protected]

Chadia Wannous

Regional One Health Officer for Africa

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

Email: [email protected]

Yanira Santana

Emergency Reporting and Outreach Specialist

Bureau FAO ECTAD Africa

Email : [email protected]