By Charles Mkoka
A group of professors from Japan has arrived in Tanzania to begin a new project called “Co-Designing Neglected Zoonosis Intervention through One-Health, Education, and Public-Private Partnership.”
This project is being done with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), marking an important step in the long-standing cooperation between Japan and Tanzania in agriculture and health.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and SUA have been working together since the mid-1990s. Over time, this partnership has grown stronger, with a focus on helping rural areas develop sustainably. JICA is Japanese agency that has been supporting Tanzania’s growth in many sectors since 1962.
The five-year project will run from August 2024, aiming to tackle neglected zoonotic diseases like Brucellosis and zoonotic tuberculosis. The diseases are common in Tanzania’s livestock sector, which is important for the country’s economy but faces serious challenges in controlling these illnesses.
The project will use a One Health approach, combining education and partnerships between the public and private sectors to develop effective solutions in the Morogoro Region.
The project is part of the SATREPS program, a joint research effort between Japan and developing countries. It brings together experts from Japanese universities and research institutions which are Rakuno Gakuxen, Yamaguchi University, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University, NEC Solution Innovators Ltd and Tanikawa Kikaku Ltd with Tanzanian experts from institutions like SUA, the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).
The main goal of the project is to create a strong system to control Brucellosis and zoonotic tuberculosis. This will be done through a combination of One Health principles, education, and partnerships between the public and private sectors. The project’s findings will be shared widely in the Morogoro Region to benefit local communities.
The project will also focus on training veterinary, health, and education officers at regional and district levels to help control these diseases.
This collaboration
highlights the importance of addressing zoonotic diseases in Tanzania’s
agriculture. The project aims to support sustainable development and improve
the lives of people in the region. As the project progresses, it is expected to
have a lasting positive impact on how Tanzania manages these diseases,
contributing to a healthier and stronger agricultural sector.