Prof. William Bazeyo One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) One Health Conference –Libreville, Gabon 12 th -15th November 2012

 Background on One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA)  Why university networks and ways universities promote One Health  Mission and objectives of OHCEA  OHCEA successes  OHCEA planned activities  Conclusion  Acknowledgement

 OHCEA is a university network established in October 2010 with support from USAID RESPOND.  OHCEA is made of 14 institutions (Schools of public Health and Veterinary Medicine) of Higher Education in six countries Kenya Uga nda Ethiopia Tanzania Dem. Rep. of Congo Rwanda

Deans Summit 14 deans 6 countries 2 USA universities OHCEA Secretariat Program manager Support staff Country Level leadership 2-3 deans Focal Persons Country coordinating committees (Government, NGOs)

 University networks have recently emerged as a popular development strategy.  Unlike twinning relationships in which two universities collaborate on specific activities, university networks bring together a bigger group of institutions to collaborate on a common issue or broad set of issues  University networks offer the possibility of making a bigger impact and being more sustainable than university-to-university partnering arrangements.

 They are primary source of health care capital or training around the world  Are a natural site for cross/trans/interdisciplinary research collaboration  Training future generations with a One Health perspective (long-term impact)

 Building cross-disciplinary applied training programs  Working with governments and private sector partners to support their missions by strengthening collaboration across disciplines and sectors  Building trans-disciplinary and trans- sectoral research teams towards improved understanding and control of complex disease systems  Providing outreach to key One Health constituents to strengthen cross- sectoral engagement.

 Mission: Our raison d’etre is to drive transformational change for the continuous improvement of human, animal, and ecosystem health and well-being  Objectives 1. To strengthen the capacity of OHCEA countries to respond to emerging infectious disease threats and 2. To promote the integration of human, domestic animal and wildlife disease surveillance and control.

 One Health Launches held in DRC, Uganda and Kenya  One Health Sensitizations held in OHCEA schools in in 6 countries  Faculty Exchange between USA universities and OHCEA institutions involving both faculty and government personnel  Multisectoral and multidisciplinary committees (CCCs) formed in 6 countries  The DRC CCC approved with ministerial decree One Health Environment Animal Human

 Regional CCC (>60 people) Leadership training in Kampala, Uganda  Fifty Faculty and 14 Deans trained in leadership skills that included team building, change management and communication skills  Multisectoral and multidsciplinary team from 6 countries drafted One Health Core competency domains  Leadership; Communication; values and Ethics; collaboration and partnerships; Systems thinking; Culture belief and gender; Policy and Advocacy; and Research

 E-learning technologies to improve teaching methods and access to information introduced in some OHCEA institutions.  Makerere University Science Knowledge-base (MUSK)  Based on Tufts University “TUSK” database for sharing teaching materials across disciplines  TUSK already operating in University of Nairobi and to be introduced in other OHCEA institutions cross disciplines

 Deans engaged intergovernmental organizations (WHO, OIE, FAO and WTO) that are key in development of guidelines for rolling out of One Health implementation.  Some OHCEA institutions participated in control of disease outbreaks in their own countries by involving faculty and students  e.g. Yellow Fever and Anthrax outbreaks in Uganda

 Support strengthening capacity of OHCEA institutions to execute its mandate through training faculty and staff  Work with national governments to identify areas where universities can best support improvements in disease outbreak surveillance, response and One Health Advocacy

 Establish and nurture university-based cross- disciplinary collaboration, co-teaching, curriculum review and partnerships  Conduct One Health seminars, lectures and campaigns to support sensitization of One Health concept at existing OHCEA schools First Global Health Institute in Africa

 Identify critical gaps among professionals to inform in- service training program development and train in- service staff.  Field Epidemiology -Master of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (MVPM) for faculty and students based on Makerere program  Veterinary Public Residency program  Other short courses as per country's need  Conduct joint public health, veterinary and nursing field practicum and placements  Conduct faculty and student exchanges across OHCEA schools and US universities

 “One Health” approach(es), partnerships and collaborations between sectors and disciplines are key to improving team work and efficiency in the control of zoonotic diseases  OHCEA is committed to building capacity of the future public health personnel both at pre-service and in-service levels who are ready to improve human and animal health in a holistic manner.

 USAID RESPOND  Governments of DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda  Intergovernmental Organisations (WHO, FAO, OIE and WTO).  OHCEA institutions