Implementing One Health as an integrated approach to health in Rwanda

Nyatanyi, Thierry; Wilkes, Michael; McDermott, Haley; Nzietchueng, Serge; Gafarasi, Isidore; Mudakikwa, Antoine; Kinani, Jean Felix; Rukelibuga, Joseph; Omolo, Jared; Mupfasoni, Denise; Kabeja, Adeline; Nyamusore, Jose; Nziza, Julius; Hakizimana, Jean Leonard; Kamugisha, Julius; Nkunda, Richard; Kibuuka, Robert; Rugigana, Etienne; Farmer, Paul; Cotton, Philip; Binagwaho, Agnes

In 2015, the Government of Rwanda developed and approved a One Health strategic plan to streamline cross-sectoral and institutional interventions, minimise duplication of efforts, and maximise the use of public resources. The goals are to: â–¸ Promote integrated disease surveillance, prevention and response (animals, humans and agriculture); â–¸ Improve education and communication among animal, human and environmental professionals; â–¸ Expose and integrate students engaged in professional education at university level to concepts related to One Health; â–¸ Promote interprofessional collaboration around innovation, research and discovery; â–¸ Develop educational tools for pre-university education that introduces concepts of One Health; â–¸ Develop policy focused on upstream drivers of disease emergence including land use, water access and deforestation; â–¸ Address issues that relate to land use planning, reducing contact between humans, domestic and wildlife with minimal changes to critical habitat; and â–¸ Address nutritional access by developing safer practices related to bush meat and animal consumption. This multipronged strategic plan is problem focused rather than discipline focused, and seeks to bring together the newly realigned University of Rwanda, the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Animal Resources and Education, The Wildlife Unit of the Rwanda Development Board, and other ministries and civil society. The strategic plan reflects Rwanda's belief that complex health problems can be addressed through integrated policy and interventions that simultaneously and holistically address multiple causes of poor health (eg, poverty, limited education, unsafe and scarce water, lack of sanitation, food insecurity, gender inequality, and close proximity of humans and animals). 14 To further reinforce One Health principles and uphold accountability to the strategic plan, Rwanda has set out to meet three core One Health objectives over the next few years.