One Health in Turkana County, Kenya: Applications and Lessons Learned

Abstract

Pastoralists contribute to social, environmental, and economic well-being in the drylands of Northern Kenya. Pastoralism is also their way of life and how they manage their livelihoods. However, the marginalization of these communities, including the lack of basic infrastructure and services, compounded by the increasing threat of infectious disease and climate change, has led to the loss of livelihoods and poor health. One Health service delivery can improve pastoralists’ health and livelihoods. This case examines the development of the One Health policy in Turkana County, Kenya. The Turkana One Health Strategy (TOHS) is undergoing final approval. We discuss the contributions of the One Health Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya, the One Health framework for integrated service delivery, and the Kimormor outreach model to this plan. We also describe recent One Health activities in Turkana and identify the benefits and limitations of each. One Health service delivery improved access to human health, animal health, and administrative services in rural, hard-to-reach areas in Turkana. Empowering communities to lead and take ownership of One Health activities is critical for implementation. One Health service delivery has some limitations, such as being resource and time intensive and being a relatively new concept in healthcare. Turkana County provides a valuable example of how One Health policy turns into practice through multilevel coordination structures, the support of public and private partners, and transdisciplinary research. It can act as a model for implementing One Health activities in Northern Kenya and other countries. © The Authors 2023