Advancing Global Health Security in Burkina Faso through shared One Health data

In West Africa, hard lessons have been learned about the impact that novel diseases can have on both health and economies. In the wake of Ebola and mPox, countries recognized the importance of One Health, an approach that sees disease prevention as part of the larger ecosystem that requires coordination across government ministries that oversee zoonotic, veterinary and human health. Having access to data across these diverse ministries is challenging but essential to coordinate rapid response to emerging public health threats.  

In Burkina Faso, CHISU supported implementation, scale-up, and support for the One Health platform, an interoperable health information system that allows data to flow across multiple ministries. This enables staff from the ministries of health, animal resources, and the environment to share data. But most importantly it facilitates collaboration to conduct joint investigations into public health events, providing an opportunity to learn together and improve the response to diseases of public health concern. Burkina Faso’s One Health approach currently addresses 5-priority zoonotic diseases: rabies, highly pathogenic avian influenza, brucellosis, anthrax, dengue through event-based surveillance and indicator-based surveillance.

Routine data use is critical to anticipate and respond to zoonotic diseases as evidenced in the investigation and comprehensive response to the death of two people from rabies in the Sabou health district in late 2022. Regional authorities initiated a joint investigation with related activities carried out with the technical and financial support from CHISU. A rabies vaccination campaign aimed to improve the level of rabies vaccination coverage in companion animals in the West Central region. CHISU engaged local and provincial stakeholders involved in the fight against rabies and in particular breeders, producers, traditional and religious leaders, associations, groups of breeders, and specialists in animal, human, and environmental health. A communication campaign also raised awareness among the population about the seriousness of rabies and how to prevent it, resulting in 1,450 animals being vaccinated throughout the Boulkiemdé Province.

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This effort has yielded positive results. From October 2023-March 2024 alone, 28 incidents were reported and entered into the One Health information system, which notified One Health stakeholders for a collaborative response.

This experience demonstrated the potential of improved coordination for One Health through shared data in Burkina Faso, a priority for the One Health Steering Committee to advance global health security in the country.