HEAL project launches new guide to address One Health hazards in pastoral areas

The One Health for Humans, Environment, Animals and Livelihood (HEAL) project has published a new guide on using community conversations to deal with One Health hazards such as antimicrobial resistance, zoonoses and food safety in pastoral communities in eastern Africa. The guide presents a four-session process focusing on human and animal health hazards arising from specific pastoral practices and behaviours such as daily interactions with animals, animal bites, management of food and water, and management of sick and dead animals. 

Behaviour change is a complex process that is influenced by many factors and conventional methods of engaging community members often fall short of promoting sustained behaviour change. The guide explains how inclusive community engagement processes between community members and trained facilitators using methods such as storytelling, scenarios, role plays and illustrations can be used to collectively identify health issues, analyse constraints and explore actions to address the issues.

‘In pastoral communities, these behaviour change approaches consider how people interact with livestock and the environment. Conversation sessions happen sequentially and progressively, typically occurring biweekly or monthly to allow time for participants to practise new behaviours and share information with other community members,’ notes the guide.

Held in community centres that are familiar and comfortable for community members, these conversations are scheduled at convenient times, especially for women who may have household responsibilities. Sessions are facilitated by local partners who speak the native languages and are well-acquainted with the communities and their contexts.

The four-session process can help community members gain relevant knowledge and attitudes to help them make positive behaviour changes to protect themselves, their families and their communities against One Health hazards. It can also encourage them to take actions to protect their health, the health of their animals and the environment.

So far, ILRI has trained HEAL partners and local government staff in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia to hold community conversations with multi-stakeholder innovation platform members through this guide. 

Download the guide:

Community Conversations: Facilitating awareness and behaviour change regarding One Health hazards

Learn more about the community conversations approach:

Community conversation: An approach for collaborative learning and action in animal health management