FAO supports Kenya's improved preparedness and response to Rift Valley Fever
Nairobi Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a priority zoonotic disease in Kenya’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). The public health burden and socioeconomic impact are underestimated due to uncoordinated surveillance systems in public health, livestock, wildlife and environmental sectors. Early detection and response to RVF outbreaks is therefore key to preventing further spread of the disease in livestock and pathogen spill-over to humans. To fight the scourge of RVF, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has developed a web-based RVF Early Warning Decision Support Tool (RVF DST), which integrates near real-time RVF risk maps, RVF historical and current disease events from the EMPRES Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i) and expert knowledge to forecast outbreaks at country level and enhance preparedness and anticipatory actions.
In line with the roadmap and action plan of the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005)-Performance Veterinary Services (PVS) and the Multisectoral One Health Coordination (MCM), the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU), Kenya’s Multisectoral Coordination Mechanism, in collaboration with FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), conducted a subnational workshop, from 18 to 22 February 2022 on Multisectoral Table Top Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) and After Action Review (AAR). The workshop trained 50 animal, human and environmental experts in Baringo County One Health Unit (COHU) cluster. The goal of these simulation and review exercises was to test the Kenya’s RVF contingency plan, and enhance the preparedness and readiness capacity of the animal, human and environmental health systems to respond to RVF outbreaks in Kenya.
In his opening remarks, Dr. George Njogu, on behalf of the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), outlined the collaborative efforts of the government in responding to recurrent RVF outbreaks and the progress made in the review of the contingency plan. He reiterated the importance to cascade the institutionalization of One Health approaches to the subnational level by the County One Health Units (COHU).
FAO ECTAD Eastern Africa Regional Manager, Charles Bebay, reiterated FAO’s commitment to collaborate with the government of Kenya in strengthening the implementation and coordination of One Health programmes at subnational level, capacity building of One Health workforce development through ISAVET.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Athman Mwatondo, from the ZDU, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, reiterated on the need for a cost-effective model for implementation of One Health approaches that should focus on the subnational level.
Improving RVF subnational preparedness and response plans The workshop used multisectoral stakeholder discussions, as stipulated in the Guidelines for Multidisciplinary Simulation Exercises, using One Health approaches developed by the ZDU in collaboration with FAO. Participants discussed actions and challenges in RVF contingency plan thematic areas such as Surveillance and Laboratory diagnosis, Infection Prevention and Control, Case Management, Risk Communication and Coordination and Resource Mobilization.
The workshop used case scenarios to simulate real life RVF outbreak phases, as outlined in the contingency plan. Specifically, the workshop tested the national and county response plans for RVF outbreaks in the following thematic areas including Surveillance and Laboratory diagnosis, Infection Prevention and Control, Case Management, Risk Communication and Coordination and Resource Mobilization.
Following the tests, an After-Action Review was conducted to identify gaps, which were consolidated to improve the RVF contingency plan, and provide recommendations that will enhance preparedness and response to future RVF outbreaks at county level. An action plan with timelines was developed to guide the country’ priorities in control of RVF outbreaks.
Workshop outputs included, the contingency plan for RVF has been reviewed and updated to be adaptable and enhance the subnational preparedness and response plans, respective Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been revised to give a more efficient response to RVF outbreaks. Together with the After-Action Review, these exercises will familiarize participants on their roles and responsibilities including best practices on risk communication as well as coordinating multiple stakeholders under a One Health approach to fight RVF in Kenya.
This exercise was supported through the FAO’s Sustainable operationalization of One Health in Africa region project funded by the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
For further information, kindly contact:
Joseph Othieno
National Communications Specialist
FAO Kenya
Email: [email protected]
Mark Nanyingi
One Health Specialist
FAO ECTAD Kenya
Email : [email protected]