CIRAD and its partners enhance their collaboration to establish a framework for preventing the emergence of zoonotic diseases in Zimbabwe.

Zoonoses are infections transmissible from animals to humans. With approximately 60 per cent of emerging infections in the world attributed to zzoonotic pathogens, it makes them a global health concern.

In a country which is home to a diverse range of domestic animals and wildlife that can potentially harbour the zoonotic diseases, this collaborative workshop aims to harness the unique strengths of the partner organizations, driving forward projects that prioritize One Health innovations without compromising their core competencies. Dr. Ian Ruredzo Machingura, senior lecturer and current chairperson in the Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe, provided an in-depth explanation on the initiative, especially its positive impact on the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe.

emphasizing the benefits of partnerships, which could serve as an advantage for Zimbabwe.

In attendance were forty-eight participants and experts from various fields, including virology, epidemiology, veterinary sciences, anthropology, ecosystem sciences, environmental sciences, public health sciences, and policy specialists, all based in Zimbabwe. The overall goal was to develop a framework for the surveillance, control, and prevention of zoonotic diseases in the country that would be available to all stakeholders and serve as a guide for creating initiatives that would address national goals and mobilising funding. The framework will help create needs- and context-appropriate projects in the country to enhance zoonotic disease prevention now and into the future.

Technical Experts

Facilitated by technical experts from the University of Zimbabwe and CIRAD, the workshop was conducted under the PREZODE (Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence) initiative and PREACT (PREZODE in Action), with financial support from the French Development Agency (AFD), and held under the auspices of the Research Platform - Production and Conservation in Partnerships.

Overview of PREZODE

PREZODE is an innovative international initiative with the ambition to understand the risks of emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases, to develop and implement innovative methods to improve prevention, early detection, and resilience and to ensure rapid response to the risks of emerging infectious diseases of animal origin. Zimbabwe was the first African country to sign the PREZODE declaration of intent, showing its commitment in the prevention of zoonotic disease emergence. 

One Health Approach

Dr. Tinashe Hodobo, from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the One Health Secretariat, said many infectious diseases of importance are diseases transmissible from animals to man which include rabies, anthrax, Malta fever, tuberculosis, COVID19 as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases such as avian influenza, Rift valley fever, plague, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and unknown pathogens potentially harboured in wildlife (e.g. bats and rodents). Dr. Hodobo emphasized the significance of involving policymakers in reinforcing OH coordination and implementation structures. Several accomplishments have been achieved in the country concerning zoonotic diseases. Currently, zoonotic committees comprised of professionals from the animal and public health sectors, as well as local authorities, convene periodically at both central and district levels to address outbreaks of rabies or anthrax.

Lessons Learnt

Drawing on lessons learnt, and experiences gained from various countries’

One Health (OH) secretariat and key ministries are engaged in the development of a OH national strategic plan, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MoLAFWRD) and Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildllife (MoECW) are collaborating on AMR through the OH secretariat, hosted by the MoHCC. Two universities, Lupane State University and Chinhoyi University of Technology, now offer a OH Masters degree.