Zoetis A.L.P.H.A. Initiative Improves Livestock Health and Farmers’ Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa with 1.7 billion Doses of Vaccines and Medicines administered in Four Years
After four years of co-funding from Zoetis and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, smallholder farms improve productivity thanks to new diagnostics, vaccines and treatments
ZAVENTEM, BELGIUM – June 10, 2021 – Livestock health and farmers’ livelihoods have been dramatically improved in Sub-Saharan Africa, following the administration of 1.7 billion doses of vaccines and medicines and over 650,000 diagnostic tests through Zoetis’ African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (A.L.P.H.A.) initiative, now in its fourth year.
The initiative - founded in 2017 with a $14 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – is dedicated to improving animal health and livelihoods in the region by increasing access to quality veterinary vaccines, medicines and services, diagnostic laboratory networks, and animal health training.
In four years of activity, the company has made significant progress in establishing the infrastructure and training to improve the state of animal health and productivity. Ten new fully operational serology laboratories have been established across Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda, and 13,234 farmers, veterinarians and para-veterinarians have been trained - with an estimated extended reach of 657,800 people through train-the-trainer programs.
The A.L.P.H.A. initiative is helping Zoetis meet its aspirations to grow veterinary care in emerging markets under its new Driven to Care long-term sustainability goals, which build on the company’s purpose to nurture the world by advancing care for animals. (link to infographics).
Glenn David, Executive Vice President and Group President at Zoetis said: “Studies show that when a household in a developing region acquires livestock, they report higher incomes, improved nutrition and better access to financial resources. Animal health is extremely important in contributing to sustainable development goals and economic opportunities in Africa.”
“Over the last four years, we’ve demonstrated that greater access to medicines and technology can help farmers raise healthier animals and secure a more productive and sustainable food supply and income. The progress being made is critical to the economic development of the region and well-being of people, especially as they face COVID-19 and worsening famine rates,” said David.
Through dedicated regulatory activities, Zoetis submitted 85 veterinary products for registration approval, and delivered 35 products to the markets (majority of them – preventative care) in addition to the Zoetis diagnostics portfolio in A.L.P.H.A. countries, which is a crucial component of sustainable development in the animal health sector. Four years ago, there were just four Zoetis products available to farmers to address the health of their herds.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 600 million of the world’s poorest households keep livestock as an essential source of income. Approximately 70% of the world’s “extreme poor” depend upon livestock and Animal Health is necessary for sustainable livestock production1. Reducing mortality and morbidity through better prevention, detection and treatment of animal disease can significantly shrink the footprint of farming in all regions and increase productivity. This means strengthening surveillance, vaccinating animals, increasing use of diagnostics and training in responsible antibiotic use for bacterial treatments.
Unique Solutions to improve animal health and sustainability through cold chain management
“The A.L.P.H.A. initiative has helped vets enhance their technical knowledge and helped farmers improve productivity and make the sector more sustainable. Farmers in the region now embrace better farming practices, improve their profitability, income and quality of life,” said Dr Ibrahim Ado Shuhu, President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA).
One of the key learnings of A.L.P.H.A. in the four years it has been running is the importance of cold chain management for vaccines until the “last mile.” Given most vaccines can get spoiled in cases of temperature fluctuation resulting from frequent power supply issues, A.L.P.H.A. supplied specialized refrigerators to 21 partners through five-year sponsorship agreements (to safeguard equipment use). These Lite Vaccine Refrigerators with remote temperature monitoring devices can work without a power supply, which ensures vaccines are kept within their acceptable temperature ranges independently from power fluctuations.
Dr Funmi Ojelade, Lab Veterinarian, Chi Lab, Ibadan Nigeria said: “The greatest impact of A.L.P.H.A. initiative is that it’s reaching out to grassroots poultry farmers providing innovative solutions, education and diagnostics to help them reduce costs and losses on their farms. Animals are healthier, more productive and allow farmers to improve their livelihoods.”
Working towards UN Food Systems Solutions
Promoting a rapid uptake of existing, scalable best practices and tools in animal health and husbandry is one of the solutions promoted by UNFAO that could reduce the emissions footprint of livestock farming by 30%. The impact of A.L.P.H.A., and more generally of community development through livestock productivity, supports better livestock health for more nature-positive, protein production that measurably improves natural resource use efficiency, limits the need for new farmland and supports a growing population.
“Unique in our approach is the sustainability angle, which is essential to encourage a mindset shift in the livestock sector towards entrepreneurialism and ownership. Empowerment of the farming and veterinary sectors is critical to enable Sub-Saharan Africa to meet the rising productivity needs of the region in a sustainable manner,” said Dr. Gabriel Varga, Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa at Zoetis and lead of the A.L.P.H.A. initiative.
“Project Shine” case study: Advancing livestock health contributing to stability and peace to the Fulani nomadic tribe in Northern Nigeria
The settlement of the pastoral Fulani nomadic tribe in local communities in Northern Nigeria, has been a source of tensions in an unstable region for decades. A.L.P.H.A. partnered with the University of Jos, Nigeria, to establish positive relationships based on improvement of animal health, access to diagnostics and health solutions via mobile vet clinics, and trainings to improve farmers’ livelihoods and income to local communities;
With 15 farms involved in the training, increased surveillance of over 5,000 head of cattle and 30 animal health workers trained, positive impacts have been seen on productivity and income of locally established farms. Donation of goats to families – especially single mothers and widows – was a first step in establishing a regular source of nutrition and income to the poorest population in the region.
“A.L.P.H.A. has brought multiple benefits to the Fulani community, to the veterinary community and nation as a whole in facilitating access to animal medicines, vaccines and diagnostic services,” said Dr Dare Omoniwa, Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, Nigeria.“Medicalisation of animals had a very big impact. It has been used to good effect to build unity, trust and peace in the region.”
These important learnings highlighting the role that Animal Health plays for the development of a more sustainable livestock production, are critical to carry into the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit and follow-on COP-26.
The A.L.P.H.A. initiative is helping Zoetis meet its aspirations to grow veterinary care in emerging markets under its new Driven to Care long-term sustainability goals, which build on the company’s purpose to nurture the world by advancing care for animals. (link to infographics).
Glenn David, Executive Vice President and Group President at Zoetis said: “Studies show that when a household in a developing region acquires livestock, they report higher incomes, improved nutrition and better access to financial resources. Animal health is extremely important in contributing to sustainable development goals and economic opportunities in Africa.”
“Over the last four years, we’ve demonstrated that greater access to medicines and technology can help farmers raise healthier animals and secure a more productive and sustainable food supply and income. The progress being made is critical to the economic development of the region and well-being of people, especially as they face COVID-19 and worsening famine rates,” said David.
Through dedicated regulatory activities, Zoetis submitted 85 veterinary products for registration approval, and delivered 35 products to the markets (majority of them – preventative care) in addition to the Zoetis diagnostics portfolio in A.L.P.H.A. countries, which is a crucial component of sustainable development in the animal health sector. Four years ago, there were just four Zoetis products available to farmers to address the health of their herds.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 600 million of the world’s poorest households keep livestock as an essential source of income. Approximately 70% of the world’s “extreme poor” depend upon livestock and Animal Health is necessary for sustainable livestock production1. Reducing mortality and morbidity through better prevention, detection and treatment of animal disease can significantly shrink the footprint of farming in all regions and increase productivity. This means strengthening surveillance, vaccinating animals, increasing use of diagnostics and training in responsible antibiotic use for bacterial treatments.
Unique Solutions to improve animal health and sustainability through cold chain management
“The A.L.P.H.A. initiative has helped vets enhance their technical knowledge and helped farmers improve productivity and make the sector more sustainable. Farmers in the region now embrace better farming practices, improve their profitability, income and quality of life,” said Dr Ibrahim Ado Shuhu, President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA).
One of the key learnings of A.L.P.H.A. in the four years it has been running is the importance of cold chain management for vaccines until the “last mile.” Given most vaccines can get spoiled in cases of temperature fluctuation resulting from frequent power supply issues, A.L.P.H.A. supplied specialized refrigerators to 21 partners through five-year sponsorship agreements (to safeguard equipment use). These Lite Vaccine Refrigerators with remote temperature monitoring devices can work without a power supply, which ensures vaccines are kept within their acceptable temperature ranges independently from power fluctuations.
Dr Funmi Ojelade, Lab Veterinarian, Chi Lab, Ibadan Nigeria said: “The greatest impact of A.L.P.H.A. initiative is that it’s reaching out to grassroots poultry farmers providing innovative solutions, education and diagnostics to help them reduce costs and losses on their farms. Animals are healthier, more productive and allow farmers to improve their livelihoods.”
Working towards UN Food Systems Solutions
Promoting a rapid uptake of existing, scalable best practices and tools in animal health and husbandry is one of the solutions promoted by UNFAO that could reduce the emissions footprint of livestock farming by 30%. The impact of A.L.P.H.A., and more generally of community development through livestock productivity, supports better livestock health for more nature-positive, protein production that measurably improves natural resource use efficiency, limits the need for new farmland and supports a growing population.
“Unique in our approach is the sustainability angle, which is essential to encourage a mindset shift in the livestock sector towards entrepreneurialism and ownership. Empowerment of the farming and veterinary sectors is critical to enable Sub-Saharan Africa to meet the rising productivity needs of the region in a sustainable manner,” said Dr. Gabriel Varga, Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa at Zoetis and lead of the A.L.P.H.A. initiative.
“Project Shine” case study: Advancing livestock health contributing to stability and peace to the Fulani nomadic tribe in Northern Nigeria
The settlement of the pastoral Fulani nomadic tribe in local communities in Northern Nigeria, has been a source of tensions in an unstable region for decades. A.L.P.H.A. partnered with the University of Jos, Nigeria, to establish positive relationships based on improvement of animal health, access to diagnostics and health solutions via mobile vet clinics, and trainings to improve farmers’ livelihoods and income to local communities;
With 15 farms involved in the training, increased surveillance of over 5,000 head of cattle and 30 animal health workers trained, positive impacts have been seen on productivity and income of locally established farms. Donation of goats to families – especially single mothers and widows – was a first step in establishing a regular source of nutrition and income to the poorest population in the region.
“A.L.P.H.A. has brought multiple benefits to the Fulani community, to the veterinary community and nation as a whole in facilitating access to animal medicines, vaccines and diagnostic services,” said Dr Dare Omoniwa, Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, Nigeria.“Medicalisation of animals had a very big impact. It has been used to good effect to build unity, trust and peace in the region.”
These important learnings highlighting the role that Animal Health plays for the development of a more sustainable livestock production, are critical to carry into the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit and follow-on COP-26.
About A.L.P.H.A.
The A.L.P.H.A. initiative, co-funded with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2017 was first launched in Uganda and Nigeria, followed by Ethiopia in 2018 and Tanzania in 2019. This initiative is aiming at advancing livestock health and productivity in Sub Saharan Africa through increased availability of veterinary medicines and services, and the implementation of disease diagnostics infrastructure. To ensure long term sustainability of this initiative, Zoetis is developing veterinary laboratory networks and outreach services into local economic hubs in partnership with Veterinary associations, local food chain players and governmental institutions.
About Zoetis
As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After nearly 70 years innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide - from livestock farmers to veterinarians and pet owners. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. In 2020, Zoetis generated revenue of $6.7 billion with ~11,300 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
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1 FAO report 2019
