L-PRES Project Trains Animal, Human and Environmental Health Workers on  One Health Approach in Bauchi State 

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar

Towards improved livestock production, a Two Day Capacity Building Training titled “One Health Approach”, for public health practitioners, livestock and environmental health officials drawn from relevant Bauchi State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)  has commenced in Bauchi, the State Capital. The training is organised by the World Bank Assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).

Declaring the activity open on Thursday 5th September, 2025,  holding at River Edge Hotel Bauchi, the State Commissioner of Agriculture Professor Simon Madugu Yalams said that the concept of One Health (OH), is a collaborative, multi-sectorial and trans-disciplinary approach working at the local, national and global level with the goal of achieving optimal health outcome, recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment.

The Commissioner said that in a state like Bauchi , where agriculture plays a pivotal role in its economy and sustainability of  livelihoods of many, the health of livestock, crops and natural environment directly impacts the health of the people.

Professor Yalams said that, Bauchi State is blessed with rich agricultural resources, vast land and friendly weather for rearing all kinds of animal species but that Government is not unaware of the challenges  such as zoonotic diseases (Lassa fever, Rabies, Yellow fever, Avian influenza, monkeypox, etc) environmental degradation, and the impacts of climate change that has become a threat for progress.

Professor Simon Madugu Yalams, Delivering his Address

“These challenges can only be effectively addressed through a one health platform which has multi-sectorial engagement of Animal Health, Human Health and Environment in the prevention and control of Zoonotic diseases”.

“Today’s training  provides us with the platform to share knowledge, align our strategies, and strengthen our partnerships. We must seize this opportunity to strategize actionable plans that will protect our communities, enhance food security and promote sustainable agricultural practices”, said the Commissioner.

He then urged the participants to actively engage in the training, share your expertise and contribute to the development of Innovative solutions that will benefit not only our state but also set a model for others to follow.

Earlier in his welcome address the State Project Coordinator (SPC) of L-PRES, Alhaji Musa Adamu One said  that the objectives of the L-PRES Project are to Improve Productivity, Commercialization and Resilience of targeted livestock production systems and to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to emergencies.

The SPC stressed that the training was specifically designed to educate participants on the principles of the one-health approach and its significance in disease monitoring and investigation, bearing in mind the need for all stakeholders  to make use of, and have equal access to the Emergency Operating Centers (EOC) domiciled within the state.

According to the SPC, the training will seek to  equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct integrated surveillance activities that encompass human, animal, and environmental health.

Participants at the training

Adamu also disclosed that the training would enhance understanding of collaborative investigation methods for potential disease outbreak and their impact on human and animal population.

Other aims of the training were enumerated by the SPC as follows:

  • To build their capacity in qualitative approach towards hazard identification, One Health risk estimation, assessment, management, and communication
  • To identify critical interface spots for diseases pathogen spillover and draw up emergency preparedness and response plan cutting across the tripartite One Health structure within the state.
  • To revive state level One Health technical working groups that cut across the tripartite OH structure within the state and to expose participants to their basic requirements and responsibilities as clearly contained in the NAPHS 01.
Alhaj Musa Adamu One, Delivering his Opening Remarks

“It will interest you to know that the project has taken into consideration the need to strengthen one health platform to address emerging, re-emerging zoonotic diseases and other climate health related issues as enshrine in sub-component 1.3, hence the need to call for this training.

“It is our desire that participants will utilize this opportunity that will lead to achieving the purpose of this training”, said Adamu.

Speaking on the sidelines with our correspondent, the Animal Health officer of the L-PRES Project, Dr. Samuel P. Maina pointed out that the training has brought together veterinary doctors and human/environmental health officials in an effort to resuscitate the One Health Approach in the State.

“We live with our domestic animals in our homes and communities and sometimes diseases criss-cross between the animals and humans. Such trainings will enhance the capacities of the key health officials to curtail the spread such diseases.

“And better health outcomes will trigger improved livestock production  for economic prosperity for  Bauchi State and the citizens”, said Dr. Maina.

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