The Centre for One Health & Neglected Tropical Diseases (COHNTD) operates under a multi-institutional governance model designed to foster regional collaboration and integrative leadership. Our governance framework includes:

  • Steering Committee: Comprising representatives from Kibabii University, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Centre, Tufts University School of Medicine, ElsMed, Trans Nzoia County, Bungoma County, USIU, CTI Africa, Sema Community Development NGO, SD Ltd, and Impulso K Ltd.
  • Advisory Board: International experts in One Health, clinical research, veterinary and human medicine, policy, and community health.
  • Technical Working Groups (TWGs): Disease-specific and thematic teams driving strategy and implementation (e.g., NTDs, zoonoses, environmental health, gender and inclusion).
  • Regional Coordination Desk: Liaises with ministries from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and the DRC.

2. Community Engagement Strategy and Programs

We adopt a community-led, culturally-sensitive approach to public health interventions and research. Key pillars of our engagement strategy include:

  • Partnerships with Local Health Units: Including CHPs (Community Health Promoters), traditional healers, and livestock officers.
  • Women and Youth Engagement Forums: Addressing sociocultural determinants of health and empowering underrepresented groups in disease response.
  • Community Dialogues & Barazas: Used for disease awareness, behavioural change, and co-designing interventions.
  • Current Coverage: We operate across Western Kenya, West Pokot, Turkana, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, and border zones with Uganda and South Sudan, with ongoing expansion.

3. Clinical Trials Methodologies

Our Centre is equipped to conduct multi-phase clinical trials, grounded in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and designed with cross-sectoral ethics review. Our methodologies include:

  • Adaptive and Community-Based Trials: Tailored to low-resource, mobile populations.
  • Mobile Clinical Units: Supporting decentralized trial monitoring and data collection.
  • eCRF Systems & AI-assisted Surveillance Tools integrated with GIS mapping for disease tracking.
  • Cross-Border Coordination: Harmonized protocols with national and county health offices in neighbouring countries.

4. Clinically Recorded Incidences of Zoonotic and Human-Human Transmitted NTDs in Key East African Regions

Context & Relevance

The regions of Western Kenya, Uganda-Mt. Elgon, Turkana, West Pokot, and Baringo are hotspots for a variety of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) due to ecological, socioeconomic, and mobility factors. These areas are home to both zoonotic and human-to-human transmissible NTDs, many of which remain under-researched and under-resourced.

  • Zoonotic NTDs
  • Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) – Sporadic reports in West Pokot, Turkana, and the Uganda-Mt. Elgon corridor.
  • Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) – Endemic in Turkana and parts of Baringo; linked to sandfly habitats and poverty.
  • Brucellosis – Widespread in pastoralist communities in Turkana, West Pokot, and Baringo, transmitted via unpasteurized dairy and close contact with livestock.
  • Echinococcosis – Reported in semi-arid zones where humans interact closely with dogs and livestock.
  • Rabies – Endemic, with frequent outbreaks due to inadequate dog vaccination in all regions mentioned.

b) Human-to-Human Transmissible NTDs

  • Trachoma – Documented cases in Turkana, West Pokot, and across the Mt. Elgon region; often linked with water scarcity and poor sanitation.
  • Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis – Common in children across Western Kenya and Uganda-Mt. Elgon due to high poverty and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) gaps.
  • Jigger Infestations– Common in Children and adults across Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, West Pokot and Turkana severely affecting school-going children and mothers.
  • Schistosomiasis – Endemic around Lake Victoria basin (affecting parts of Western Kenya) and inland water bodies in Baringo and West Pokot.
  • Lymphatic Filariasis – Transmission still occurs sporadically in lowland Western Kenya and Baringo.

Key Risk Factors

  • Cross-border livestock movement and human migration (especially across Mt. Elgon, Uganda, and Kenya).
  • Inadequate health infrastructure for diagnosis and surveillance.
  • Cultural practices involving livestock and bush meat.
  • Environmental factors, such as vector breeding grounds and drought conditions.

Regional Impact Summary

  • Turkana: High prevalence of mycetoma; cases of visceral leishmaniasis reported.
  • West Pokot: Endemic for visceral leishmaniasis; paediatric cases significant.
  • Baringo: Data limited; potential underreporting of NTDs.
  • Uganda–Mt. Elgon: Cases of visceral leishmaniasis; recent mpox cases confirmed.
  • Western Kenya: Data on specific NTDs limited; requires enhanced surveillance