Joint Human and Animal Health Campaigns in Chad

Abstract

Abstract Providing basic health services to nomadic populations is challenging mainly because of their mobility affecting geographical access to essential services but also due to their particular cultural habits and beliefs, influencing health intervention acceptance. The strategy of joint human and animal health campaigns applied in Chad for over 30 years has helped to improve coverage of childhood and livestock vaccination and increased access to disease prevention. The campaigns are organized by the Chadian ministries for public health and livestock, supported by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and its local partners. The use of synergies across sectors intends to reduce costs compared to independent sectoral interventions. The gain lies not only in shared logistics but also in better trust in essential services by pastoralists. Planning of joint interventions should start with a careful assessment of the context through a transdisciplinary approach identifying possible access barriers. This allows multidisciplinary development of mitigation measures such as a locally adapted awareness strategy. The multi-disciplinary approach also provides information on the seasonal movements of the different pastoral groups, which is crucial for the timing and location of interventions. Administrative and technical preparation of the field visits needs concerted efforts by all ministries and partners involved to maximize the benefits. To facilitate the uptake and sustainability of joint campaigns in Chad, the involved partners together developed an implementation guide based on their long-standing experience. This case report draws on this guiding document and showcases it for other actors interested in implementing similar One Health strategies. Information © The Authors 2024