In the recent past, Kenya has had outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases like Rift Valley Fever (RVF), Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and common endemic diseases like rabies and anthrax. This calls for a workforce that is able to identify, manage, prevent and communicate risk using the One Health approach. Risk analysis training for government officers responsible for disease control and prevention will build capacity for prevention, detection and response to public health threats.
In November 2017, OHCEA-Kenya conducted a Training of Trainers risk analysis training for Kenya government officers to be later cascaded to the lowest levels (sub-counties) in high risk regions of the country. The training was conducted in Machakos Kenya. The training was designed with the objective of; equipping officers with skills to prioritize risks, focus resources in areas with highest risk and provide evidence based and timely decision making that informs policies and practices for risk management at community and national levels
Officers that attended the training were equipped with skills to prioritize risks, focus resources in areas with highest risk and provide evidence-based and timely decision-making that informs policies and practices for risk management at community and national levels. The training was based on the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) focus areas such as the top five priority zoonotic diseases and AMR for Kenya.
Ten (10) out of 56 Government officers trained in risk analysis in Year Three of the One Health Workforce project underwent the TOT on risk analysis. Thirty sub-county government officers were also trained. This included animal, human and wildlife health officers responsible for disease control and prevention in high-risk counties. These are the risk managers in the counties and the first line in the detection and response to disease outbreaks. This training will therefore help them to prioritize risk in their counties so as to ensure resources are utilized efficiently.
Participants were taken through the different components of risk management and risk prioritization, risk-based inspection and surveillance and rapid assessments, risk communication and project manage
The results of this training are; ten TOTs were trained on the delivery of risk analysis modules; 30 county officers (risk managers) from high risk counties were trained on risk analysis; the level of knowledge of 30 county officers during the risk analysis training in Nakuru increased by 29% from 53% to 82%.