Africa needs better One Health surveillance ^{CEFR B2}

The CABI-led One Health Horizon Scanning exercise gathered insights from more than 400 stakeholders across governments, research institutions, NGOs and international organisations and found that fragmented data systems hinder early detection and response. Rather than a simple lack of information, the study said the core problem is weak information flow between human, animal and environmental sectors.

Respondents placed integrated surveillance — linking human, livestock, agricultural and ecosystem expertise — at the top of their priorities. Yahaya Ali Ahmed of WHO Africa urged surveillance at all levels, “including the peripheral level,” and described regional Quadripartite work with the Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Environment Programme and World Organisation for Animal Health to support national One Health plans and gap monitoring. Raji Tajudeen of Africa CDC stressed that “Every outbreak begins and ends in the community” and called for well trained, numerous community health workers whose data link into national systems.

CABI’s brief highlights delays seen in Nigeria’s Lassa fever belt, where MSF reported patients arriving late and warned that diagnostics must be user friendly at the point of care to protect patients and health workers. The brief also points to environmental drivers such as climate change and ecosystem degradation and notes research gaps: certain topics are underrepresented.

• Pesticides
• Mycotoxins
• Land use change
• Ecosystem and plant health

The brief recommends anchoring investment in shared priorities, enabling regional customisation, promoting inclusive participation, bridging silos and investing in intergenerational capacity building. It also notes that community-based surveillance can bridge communities and formal systems. The article was supported by the One Health Hub managed by CABI with funding from UK International Development; the views do not necessarily reflect UK government policy.