One Health in Botswana: Connecting Animal and Human Data to Protect Communities
- Zane Dickens
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
In a step toward strengthening regional health systems, Jembi recently held a strategic meeting in Gaborone with Botswana's National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI). The discussions centred on integrating One Health systems and enhancing zoonotic disease surveillance both within Botswana and across the broader region.
What is One Health?
One Health is an integrated approach recognising that human health is connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. This collaborative, multidisciplinary framework brings together expertise from healthcare, veterinary medicine, and environmental science to address complex health challenges, particularly zoonotic diseases that can spread between animals and humans, like COVID-19.
Successful One Health Cases Around the World
Rabies Control in Asia
Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Bangladesh have reduced human rabies deaths through One Health strategies. Their success came from coordinated dog vaccinations, better access to human post-exposure treatments, and effective public education.
In Bangladesh, reported deaths dropped from 1,500 to 200 within three years.
In Bhutan, between 2006 and 2016, there were only 17 confirmed rabies cases. [1]
Plant and Animal Health Integration in Uganda
A plant health clinic in Uganda expanded its focus to livestock, offering joint services to farmers. The combined approach addressed both crop and animal health, leading to better yields, improved food security, and more resilient livelihoods for rural communities. [2]
Rift Valley Fever Response in Sudan
A One Health approach was used during an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Sudan. Coordinated surveillance, animal vaccination, and public health responses greatly reduced the spread in both livestock and humans compared to siloed efforts. [2]
Jembi develops integrated health information systems and has consistently championed the One Health approach, particularly with our active involvement in the Enhancing Research for Africa Network (ERFAN). Through ERFAN, we offer digital solutions and provide monitoring and evaluation expertise that supports data-driven decision-making.
This collaboration advances our mission to integrate human, animal, and environmental health data. This unified approach will help anticipate and prevent zoonotic disease outbreaks before they impact communities.
Benefits for Local Health and Veterinary Professionals
In Botswana, our partnership with NARDI and integrated One Health systems could benefit local health and veterinary professionals in several ways. They can work better across disciplines, access better data for diagnosis and treatment, spend less time on paperwork, and gain new professional skills.
These practical advantages translate directly to improved patient care, as by connecting human and animal health information, they could spot patterns earlier, predict disease outbreaks, and take targeted action to improve community health outcomes.
Building on this foundation of practical benefits, the knowledge exchange with NARDI spans multiple disciplines, including technology, digital health, veterinary science, and research and development.
Looking at the broader impact, this partnership exemplifies Jembi's ongoing commitment to supporting cross-sectoral collaborations that drive innovation, resilience, and sustainability in health systems throughout Africa.
Sources
Horefti, E. (2023). The Importance of the One Health Concept in Combating Zoonoses. Pathogens, 12(8), 977. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/977
One Health Hub. (n.d.). One Health explainer (CABI Working Paper No. 34). CABI. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.cabi.org/wp-content/uploads/Working-Paper-34.pdf
