African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources PRESERVING ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH: OUR PRINCIPAL GOAL

African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources Implementation of One Health in Africa through Establishment and Operationalization of Integrated Regional Coordination Mechanism (IRCM) Dr Baba Soumare, Chief Animal Health Officer AU – IBAR

Outline  Introducing AU – IBAR  Overview of Zoonotic Diseases in Africa  Initiatives of AU – IBAR in Operationalizing OH  Challenges of Implementing OH Approach  Recommendations 3

Introducing AU-IBAR Mandate To support and coordinate the development & utilization of animals (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) as a resource for human wellbeing in the Member States, and to contribute to economic development Focus Leadership to enhance animal health in Africa in support of livelihood, food safety, nutritional security, public health, trade and economic growth 4

AU-IBAR Strategic Programs (Strategic Plan ) 1.TADs and Zoonosis - Reducing the impact of trans-boundary animal diseases and zoonoses on livelihoods and public health in Africa 2.Natural Resources Management - Enhancing Africa’s capacity to conserve and sustainably use its animal resources and their resource base 3.Investment and Competitiveness - Improving investment opportunities in, and competitiveness of animal resources in Africa 4.Standards and Regulations - Promoting development of standards and regulations and facilitation of compliance 5.Policies and Capacity Building -Facilitating development of policies and institutional capacities for improved utilization of animal resources in Africa 6.Knowledge Management -Improving knowledge management in animal resources to facilitate informed and timely decision- making

Situation of Zoonoses in Africa  Africa bears the largest burden and risk of zoonoses globally – Many important zoonoses endemic among the poorest communities in Africa: Rabies, Anthrax, Bovine TB, Brucellosis, Cysticercosis, Echinococosis, Sleeping sickness … – New diseases of public health concern emerge frequently from Africa; Haemorrhagic fevers (CCHF, Ebola, Lassa, Margurb, RVF 6

Disease Report…Zoonoses in Africa Widespread Distribution 7 Rabies Distribution in 2011 Anthrax Distribution in 2011 Brucellosis Distribution in 2011

Implementation of One Health in Africa: 1. Outbreak Response Capacity Development 8

1. Strengthening Veterinary Governance in Africa – Policy/Legislation Framework: Increase budget allocation to Vet/Health services; Inclusion of major zoonoses in priority list/Legislations 2. Core Technical Competencies (OIE PVS) (Surveillance, Reporting, Diagnostic and Response)  Equipment, Materials (vehicles, moto-cycles, cold chain…  Budget support (Field operations)  Information system/Knowledge Management (ARIS)  Training (Epi, Lab, 9 AU – IBAR Initiatives to Enhance Outbreak Response Capabilities

AU-IBAR OH Initiatives to Address TADs & Zoonoses Ex. SPINAP-AHI: Develop & Support Implementation of Integrated National Action Plan (INAPs) to combat HPAI 47 African ACP countries  The main achievements of SPINAP: – Integrated National Coordination Mechanism (INCM) initiated – Risk-based surveillance – Training of Joint Rapid Response Teams (JRST) – Training for wildlife health personnel on managing health risks at the interface) – Training on health risk communication – Capacity building of diagnostic labs 10

AU-IBAR OH Initiatives to Address TADs & Zoonoses Ex. VACNADA: Control of Neglected Disease (ND, PPR, CCPP…) & Vaccine production and delivery Ex. SMP-AH: Harmonized Standards in IGAD to control trade sensitive diseases (FMD, PPR, Brucellosis, RVF, CBPP) Ex. PANSPSO: Elaboration and compliances with Health Standards … 11

Implementation of One Health in Africa: II. Coordination of interventions: Integrated Coordination Mechanisms (IRCM & INCM) 12

 Develop capabilities of RECs to implement sectoral and inter- sectoral coordination and harmonization of actions at regional level and national levels  Built on lessons learnt from SPINAP & AI  Built on outcome of Stock Taking: Mapping of Sectoral & Intersectoral Coordination & Cross-cutting at RECs  Effective and sustainable management of endemic and emerging zoonoses demand strong collaboration among health sectors 13 Institutional Capacity Development: Integrated Regional Coordination Mechanism

Wildlife Health Coordination Livestock Health Coordination Public Health Coordination Inter-sectoral Collaboration 14 OH Initiatives ….IRCM Structure at REC

Public Health Animal Health Environmental Health ICM Instrument for inter-sectoral collaboration to address zoonoses Over 90% of all infectious agents are influenced by environment  Overall objective is health for humans  Man’s interaction with animals and environment affects Health  61% of all human pathogens are zoonotic  about 75% of all emerging pathogens in the past decade originated in animals Improve Health of Animals 15 OH Initiatives ….. IRCM

 Implementation and Resource Mobilization plans for RECs (SADC, EAC, ECCAS)  Support sectoral & inter-sectoral coordination activities (SADC technical committees meetings)  Develop capacity for implementation of the One Health approach at national and regional levels  Cascade down at national level plans developed at global and continental levels through GF-TADs & Other platforms/ Networks 16 AU-IBAR Initiatives : Operationalizing IRCM/OH

 Capacity Development: Training (Vet, Med and Wildlife Experts) on Joint Outbreak Management (WILD) – AU-IBAR & USAID RESPOND partnership – 4 training sessions: Rwanda June 2011; Ghana May 2012; Gabon August 2012 and Burundi (November 2012). – All trained also Champions and Member of the continental network known as OHNETA (under establishment) 17 AU-IBAR Initiatives Operationalizing OH in Africa

18  Capacity development: One Health Curriculum – Developing OH curriculum for in-service training of professionals engaged in health service delivery – Organized a retreat involving health professionals from universities, ministries, consortia and research institutions at regional and national levels, – Ex. FELTP CDC Model AU-IBAR Initiatives Operationalizing OH in Africa

19  Advocacy for One Health – Promote consensus and collaboration of partners over OH implementation – Mobilize political support/will (MoH/MoA) – Regional advocacy forums to sensitize on the value addition of OH approach – Continental workshop: to formulate a continental OH strategy/roadmap launch a continental wide OH network (OHNETA) AUC Africa Chapter on OH AU-IBAR Initiatives Operationalizing OH in Africa

Challenges of OH Implementation  Institutionalization of the OH concept – Experience of OH during HPAI outbreaks has not been institutionalized … – Specificities and cultures of sectors/organization (Resistance: a “silo culture” ex. Public Health: priority – Existing institutional settings don’t necessarily demand collaboration among health sectors for addressing health issues – Policy and legislations to include the One Health approach at national and regional levels 20

 Operationalization of the OH approach – Need to demonstrate the practical application of OH approach for addressing zoonoses/health problems Joint planning, preparedness, investigation and response targeting priority zoonoses(Rabies, RVF…) – Actual integration/Coordination at national level – Technical and financial capacities 21 Challenges of OH Implementation

Recommendations: Strengthen OH Approach at national level  Re-vitatilize national AI task forces/committees & turn them to Zoonotic comities: It works once, it can work again!!!  National ZDO (Zoonotic Disease Office/ CDC Model)  Update Legislations/Policies; Formal MoU (MoL&MoH)  Guidelines and SOPs for collaboration  Joint strategic planning/ Prioritization of diseases of animal and public interest, Joint outbreak investigation 22

Take Home Let’s us stop talking about collaboration, Let us Just Start Doing it, Let us somewhere (ex. Rabies)! 23

Thank you 24 Providing Leadership in the Development of Animal Resources for Africa