The project dubbed: “Strengthening One Health Systems and Livelihood Resilience for Women Smallholder Farmers in Ghana,” is being implemented in the Bongo and Kassena-Nankana West Districts with funding support from Zoetis through Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB).

The project seeks to strengthen community-based animal health systems, improve household incomes, promote financial inclusion and build resilience against climate-related challenges.

Speaking at the launch in Bongo, Mr David Amozebga, the Head of Programmes and Partnerships at Meta Foundation-Ghana, said the initiative would address the interconnected challenges of livestock diseases, limited access to veterinary services, poor market opportunities and low financial inclusion that continue to affect women farmers and rural livelihoods.

He said the project was founded on the One Health concept, which recognises the close relationship between human, animal and environmental health, and would provide sustainable solutions to improve food security and community resilience.

“Our goal is to improve farmers’ access to veterinary and extension services, reduce livestock mortality, empower women entrepreneurs to become more profitable and sustainable, and prepare communities to respond to future health, environmental and livelihood challenges,” Mr Amozebga said.

He explained that the project would train 20 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and 20 veterinary professionals to provide basic animal healthcare services in underserved communities while strengthening disease prevention and surveillance.

The initiative is also expected to directly benefit about 4,000 farmers and 4,000 students through community education, digital advisory services, financial literacy training, strengthened village savings and loans associations, and the establishment of One Health Clubs in schools.

Mr Amozebga urged traditional authorities, government institutions and community leaders to support the project to ensure its sustainability and local ownership.

Ms Christiana Kankani Yakubu, Country Manager for Ghana at Veterinarians Without Borders, said access to veterinary services remained limited, particularly in rural communities, making the intervention critical to improving animal health, human health, livelihoods and food security.

She emphasised the need for strong collaboration among government agencies, development partners and communities to ensure that every hard-to-reach community benefited from quality veterinary services.

Dr Henry Nii Anang, Upper East Regional Veterinary Director, described the project as a timely intervention that complemented government efforts to decentralise veterinary service delivery.

He said the region had only a few veterinary professionals serving more than three million livestock, making it difficult to promptly detect and respond to disease outbreaks such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Newcastle disease and African Swine Fever.

Dr Anang noted that training Community Animal Health Workers would bridge the gap by bringing basic veterinary services closer to livestock farmers while strengthening collaboration with the Veterinary Services Directorate.

“As the Regional Veterinary Directorate, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen veterinary service delivery and enhance collaboration with development partners to build a resilient livestock sector,” he said.

Ms Diana Asoketarige Ayamga, the Bongo District Chief Executive, said the project was a step in the right direction as it would empower women farmers, educate schoolchildren on One Health practices and complement efforts by veterinary officers to improve animal health in the district.

Mr Henry Ayamba, Bongo District Director of the Department of Agriculture, said the initiative would significantly improve access to veterinary services and contribute to increased livestock productivity in beneficiary communities.