Effectiveness of multisectoral collaboration in implementation of One Health Approach for control of zoonoses in Kisumu, Kenya

Aim: One health (OH) integrates the efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment. Changing interactions between people, animals, plants, and the environment have resulted in the growth and expansion of human populations into new geographic areas. The proximity to domestic and wild animals, climate changes, and land use distort the environment leading to opportunities for the amplification of zoonoses. Implementing the OH approach at the national, local, and project level remains limited due to the lack of practical and tested operational methods for implementation and evaluation. In Kenya, the OH approach is spearheaded by the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU). This study assessed the proportion of partners collaborating for OH, the methods, and the factors affecting multisectoral collaboration to confirm its effectiveness in controlling zoonoses in Kisumu County. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used to generate information regarding the effectiveness of multisectoral collaboration in implementing the OH approach in the control of zoonoses. Descriptive statistics determined and assessed the nature, extent, and factors that affected multisectoral collaboration. Results: Multisectoral collaboration to control zoonoses in Kisumu was limited and driven mainly by public health officers (PHOs). Collaboration was enhanced through joint sensitizations and notifications whenever a zoonosis was suspected. The need for expertise outside one sector, the desire to promote OH, and the requirement to mainstream OH as a government policy prompted multisectoral collaboration. Conclusion: Multisectoral collaboration needed to be improved owing to a deficient OH policy hence the need for review to optimize the limited funding for training and infrastructure development, addressing staffing requirements, and setting up a robust information management system for data sharing.