Description
Introduction/objectives:
Together we can do better, public health requires collective implications. Many pandemics such as COVID-19 have proven that, our public health should be a common concern. More multidisciplinary teams need to be encouraged. The objective of the One Health Water Africa (OHWA) Field school, holding in Akonolinga, Centre Region, Cameroon, is to investigate One Health issues related to water borne diseases. The project works with master’s students from three North/South Universities. Two sessions have held. By may 2024, the third edition’s preparations will be in progress.
Methodology
The OHWA is a collaboration among a consortium of four institutions: the university of Corsica Pascal Paoli (France), the Universities of Buea, Douala and the French Institute of Sustainable Development (IRD) in Cameroon. The first edition took place 14-25 November 2022; it was made a 29-member team; seven Cameroon English-speaking students, two French speaking students, ten French students, five supervisors, four field technicians from IRD, altogether nine specialties. They collected data from 134 households and results presented during a restitution ceremony to the community. The second edition held 10-23 November 2023, a 35-member team, bringing together eight Cameroon English-speaking students, two French-speaking students, ten French students, five supervisors, five members of IRD, five speakers and twelve specialties. This year add-up was to teach the community local-made, readily available method of treating drinking water using moringa almond powder.
Results and discussions
The project has successfully train forty students to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams with diversify components. A dozen villages visited; more than 1000 local community dwellers impacted. OHWA has taught water purification using moringa to about 300 people, collaboratively has recorded community’s perception towards the method and possibilities to disseminate better. The project has participated in the Yaoundé One Health Forum (YOHF) with six presentations. It has fostered other projects, one on youth, education, agricultural entrepreneurship (AGRICOM) and another on One Health issues of stray animals, diseases transmission (TROHIKA). It has fostered closeness in youth from South/North as youth forums will hold during the next edition. It has been presented as a case study during an expert meeting on One Health and Planetary Health in humanitarian settings held in Geneva. Currently two master’s students in One Health in infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance are completing research projects based on OHWA. Research groups hosting participants are pleased with how they relate to team work and their concerns to the inclusiveness of communities in research. closed to ten presentations from OHWA have been submitted for the 2024 GHF.
Conclusion
The OHWA Field School is an innovative project to engage communities in co-designing, co-constructing, co-implementing measures related to zoonoses and environmental diseases transmission and looking forward to commonly used natural resources for the benefits of all. After these two editions, possibilities exist for other institutions to join, this will propel the consortium’s contribution towards the opening of the university of Buea annex campus in Akonolinga, the research area.
Key words: collaboration, field school, community engagement, One Health, water related diseases
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