CIMTRADZ. Capacity building in Integrated Management of Trans-boundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses

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1 CIMTRADZ Capacity building in Integrated Management of Trans-boundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses

2 Community Service Learning Activities One Health Brucellosis Radio Talk Show

3 Community Service Learning Activities in Soroti District in Uganda One Health Radio Talk Show on Brucellosis June 2014 And June 2015 Through support from USAID-HED, the Africa-US universities Capacity Building in Integrated Management of Transboundary Animal Diseases & and Zoonoses (CIMTRADZ) project implemented a community service initiative as part of a multidisciplinary One Health student training approach. The initiative involved community education through a live radio talk show about zoonotic diseases, vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies, and vaccination of poultry against Newcastle Disease. The radio is one of the most commonly used media to reach or engage communities. Therefore, a radio talk show was organized in Soroti to discuss zoonoses particularly brucellosis, tuberculosis and rabies. A popular radio station (Veritas FM) with wide coverage in the Teso sub-region, was used. This was a community outreach program organized collaboratively by universities in East & Central Africa (Mekelle University, Ethiopia; Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania; University of Nairobi, Kenya, University of Rwanda, Rwanda) led by Makerere University, Uganda and the US (Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine). The main objective was to disseminate information on zoonoses to livestock and to expose participants to the lmass medium for dissemination of information on livestock and human health

4 Participants answered questions from the local community on several aspects of Brucellosis including modes of transmission, clinical signs, prevention and control; and laboratory diagnosis Students preparing for the radio talk show Students during the radio talk show

5 Students during the radio talk show Students during the radio talk show The talk was on: Brucellosis: What is it? Clinical signs in humans and livestock, effect of brucellosis in humans and livestock, brucellosis in Teso, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia etc, brucellosis prevention and control, control policy in Uganda, safety of locally made yoghurt (bongo), treatment of brucellosis in humans and livestock, effect of brucellosis on international trade. Tuberculosis: In livestock, TB situation in east Africa, control of TB in livestock and humans. Rabies: Availability of treatment, number of people bitten by dogs in Soroti per month. Cysticercosis: What is it? How serious is the condition? Availability of veterinarians in all

6 The listeners were given opportunity to call in or send their questions. The callers asked questions or wanted clarification on; Clinical signs of brucellosis in humans. Reliability of diagnostic tests for brucellosis and that the different laboratories will give different results for the same individual. Of the TB transmitted from humans to humans or livestock to humans, which of the two is deadly? That why are these diseases common in Africa? Vaccination interval for rabies and CBPP. Can brucellosis be transmitted through kissing? Can brucellosis be cured? The drugs used for treating brucellosis. One caller commented: That the program was good but English as a medium of communication was not a good choice. One caller asked a question not related to the topic of discussion i.e. Why do dogs chew grass?

7 Student s Story by Mr. Patrick King It was my first time to participate in a radio talk show; moreover a live broadcast. It was in the evening when a team of experts from Makerere University and summer school participants were involved in the talk show. It involved two main languages i.e. English and Ateso. It covered a talk time of more than one hour on a live call-in popular evening radio program whose topic of focus was Brucellosis. We talked about brucellosis as a disease, how it is transmitted in animals and humans, clinical signs of the disease in animals and humans and how the disease can be prevented. It was interesting to hear the version in the local language. After our elaborate introductory presentation, the public was invited to call in. It was interesting that many calls came in. Initially I thought people would not understand the subject that easily but many people called in and asked relevant questions which showed that people understood. I learnt from their questions that the public was eager to know more information about their livelihood as well as animal welfare. One caller was so excited that he asked should people now stop eating meat since no one can see the disease and it is dangerous? To me I had a mixed feeling that either the caller was genuinely worried or just joking. He was told that he handles delivering animals with care as well as eating well cooked milk and meat. Many called to appreciate the program and requested for more related programs. Prof. Margaret Khaitsa informed the public that the talk show was sponsored by USAID-HED through Makerere University and partner universities from America led by Mississippi State University. She requested local leaders and professionals to embrace the One Health approach and use it to educate the community so as to meet community need for knowledge to improve their health and that of their livestock. The program was very exciting to me and I am sure it was to my fellow participants as well. Special thanks to USAID-HED and all the partner universities in the CIMTRADZ project for working together with Soroti District professionals; district leaders; management and staff of Caritas Radio to organize this wonderful talk show.