As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we are overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement for the journey so far. Over the past half decade, we’ve embarked on a remarkable journey dedicated to promoting education, advocacy, research, and offering practical solutions to interrelated issues of human, animal, and ecosystem health through the integrated approach of One Health. So, join us in commemorating this milestone as we reflect on our achievements, express gratitude to our supporters and donors, and look ahead to the future.
Over the years, our impact strategies have included community-focused programmes and research, media campaigns, advocacy, policy influencing, and utilising technology to achieve desired outcomes. Through our campaigns, we have raised awareness about the pressing need for improved animal welfare and addressed public health issues, including zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety. We’ve also taken on projects that highlight the importance of sustainable food systems and champion conservation and biodiversity protection to safeguard endangered species and promote a healthy environment. Our evidence-based research endeavours have contributed valuable insights that have been instrumental to informing our cost-effective and high-impact interventions.
Our Project Achievements
Here are some achievements we’ve been able to record across our key focus areas:
Public Health
Our commitment to promoting public health is showcased by several key initiatives. Combating antimicrobial resistance has been a major part of this. We carried out Project AMR, which was a research project to assess and promote stakeholder awareness and action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through evidence-based research, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation of the National Action Plan. Also, during World AMR Awareness Week 2023, we organised Community and Media Outreaches on Antimicrobial Resistance, engaging over 4,000 people, including butchers, farmers, and pharmacists. This outreach program raised awareness about the dangers of antimicrobial resistance in animal healthcare and promoted the responsible use of antimicrobials.
Another significant public health initiative, Project Abattoir Nigeria, addressed critical issues related to unhealthy abattoirs, poor meat hygiene, and the consumption of infected meat. This nationwide advocacy effort highlighted the importance of proper meat handling and hygiene practices to protect public health.
Project Eliminate Rabies is a two-phase initiative aimed at promoting community awareness and mass dog vaccination against rabies in Nigeria. To date, we have reached over 3,933 people and vaccinated 470 household pets in neglected communities of Oyo and Osun states, with plans to expand nationwide. Similarly, in response to Nigeria’s first anthrax outbreak in July 2023, together with the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, we launched an anthrax awareness and vaccination programme in Iseyin, vaccinating 609 cows and donating 20,000 vaccine doses to curb the disease’s spread. This initiative underscores the critical role of community engagement and improved animal welfare practices in promoting optimal animal and human health. Also, we conducted Community Outreach on Aspergillus Contamination of Ponmo and Meat Products. This awareness campaign educated over 500 cowskin traders in three Ibadan markets about the health risks of consuming Aspergillus-contaminated ponmo and promoted proper hygienic practices.
Environment and Conservation
Our environmental conservation efforts included Project Fish and Oceans, an initiative which focused on ocean resource conservation and addressing the health and economic impacts of Nigeria’s over-reliance on fish importation.
The Clean Up Ijora Project involved cleaning up the Ijora Fish Market in Lagos, educating people about sanitation, and studying local perceptions of the importance of a clean environment. This initiative underscored the critical link between a clean environment and public health.
In Akwa-Ibom State, we launched Conservation Education (CED), providing training and awareness on ocean conservation and environmental management. This project engaged over 50 community members, resulted in a comprehensive training manual, and included a photo expedition and a stakeholder webinar.
Pangolin Conservation is another vital initiative. In collaboration with the Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria, we launched Project Pangolin Conservation. This project focused on community education and action against pangolin trafficking, resulting in heightened local awareness, the establishment of a community task force, and a significant reduction in the illegal pangolin trade.
We also conducted Sea Turtle Conservation Awareness outreaches to three secondary schools in Ondo State, engaging 230 participants and inspiring 119 students to join the sea turtle conservation club. Efforts are underway to expand this program to more schools, furthering our commitment to marine conservation.
Our Ilaje Beach Clean Up at Araromi Beach in Ondo State involved removing seaside waste and raising conservation awareness about the impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles and aquatic life. This initiative also engaged and mentored students from the Sea Turtle Conservation Club.
Animal Welfare
Our dedication to animal welfare is evident in the number of high-impact interventions we have embarked on. One of them is the Hen Welfare Research (HWR) project, conducted in collaboration with the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW). This project involved a baseline study on hen welfare in Nigeria, which revealed a 60% prevalence of battery cages and highlighted poor animal and hen welfare knowledge and practices.
Another is the Promoting Animal Welfare in Nigeria (PAWN) project, which piloted a community-based humane and animal welfare education program in Ibadan, training 20 farmers and providing subsidized animal health services to over 70 farmers.
Also, through the Aquaculture Welfare Intervention Programme, we have been able to train fish farmers and stakeholders on effective welfare practices and management systems. Similarly, our Hen Welfare and Cage-free Advocacy initiative promotes cage-free farming and improves hen welfare in Nigeria through stakeholder training, corporate campaigns, and public awareness programs. To date, we have reached over 150 farmers and government officials. To further the campaign, our Animal Welfare team will be working alongside some trained veterinarian field officers to increase awareness of poultry welfare and promote cage-free farming across 16 states in Nigeria.
Sustainable Food Systems
In our pursuit of sustainable food systems, we established Alternative Proteins Africa (APA). This project promotes the growth and advancement of the alternative protein sector in Africa through knowledge sharing, advocacy, research, and innovation. Our focus on transitioning to plant-based protein sources aims to improve human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
Our Impact So Far
We are proud to have reached over 30 million people with One Health-related news and information through traditional and social media platforms. Our projects, research, community outreaches, and media campaigns across 28 Nigerian states have directly impacted over 13,000 individuals. The impact has been significant, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
We, therefore, extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of our journey. None of our achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our funders, supporters, volunteers, implementing partners and institutions, hardworking staff members, and supportive board members. Your generosity, dedication, and passion have fueled our efforts and inspired us to reach greater heights.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing the One Health concept to achieve effective, optimal, and sustainable outcomes in human, animal, and ecosystem health. We envision expanding our reach, forging new partnerships, implementing innovative solutions, and contributing to evidence-informed policy formulation and implementation to address emerging One Health and sustainability challenges. We are unrelenting in our resolve!
We invite you to join us in shaping the future of One Health. Together, we can continue to advocate for a healthier, more sustainable world where the wellbeing of humans, animals, and the environment is given the necessary attention.
Here’s to five years of One Health impact, as well as many more years of driving positive change and a better world!
