One-Health-One-Welfare Program in Manang, Nepal

The One-Health-One-Welfare (OHOW) program, conducted in the Manang District of Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), Nepal, has recently concluded its second phase. Collaboratively led by the International Veterinary Outreach, Snow Leopard Conservancy, Animal Nepal, and Mountain Spirit, this initiative focuses on improving the lives of both animals and people in the region.

Program Overview

The OHOW program employs an interdisciplinary approach to enhance local capacity, emphasizing domestic animal health and welfare, veterinary capacity building, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict. The recently released final report highlights the achievements and outlines recommendations for future actions.

Program Goals and Objectives

The second phase of the program aimed to expand veterinary services, particularly focusing on working animals. Objectives included One Health community education, specialized veterinary training, and direct veterinary care for herder communities. The program successfully advanced these objectives, contributing to the well-being of both animals and the local population.

Recommendations

The report provides detailed recommendations for various stakeholder groups, focusing on mitigating zoonotic diseases, improving human-animal health-welfare, and promoting wildlife conservation. Key recommendations include rabies vaccination for animal health workers, disease surveillance for snow leopards, and collaborative annual programs for canine sterilization and vaccination.

Stakeholder-specific Recommendations:

• Junior Technicians (JTs) and Junior Technician Assistants (JTAs): Emphasis on proper animal handling techniques, discontinuation of ineffective castration methods, and responsible antibiotic use.

• Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Wildlife Officials: Urgent actions to manage canine populations, disease surveillance for snow leopards, and collaboration with various organizations for canine sterilization and vaccination programs.

• Rural Municipalities (Gaunpalikas): Financial support for veterinary programs, collaborative annual programs for canine sterilization and vaccination, and planning meetings to incorporate veterinary activities into annual budgets.

• Manang District Livestock Officers: Collaboration with rural municipalities and NGOs for canine programs, investment in livestock animal health clinics, and planning meetings to include veterinary services in annual budgets.

• Livestock Herders and Other Domestic Animal Owners: Recommendations include rabies vaccinations, discontinuation of ineffective castration methods, utilizing Junior Technicians for animal health, following herding practices to protect livestock, and participating in available vaccination and sterilization clinics.

The comprehensive recommendations underscore the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to address health, welfare, and conservation issues in Manang. Implementing these recommendations requires a united effort from local authorities, NGOs, and the community.

In conclusion, the OHOW program's second phase has made significant strides in improving the lives of animals and people in Manang. The provided recommendations serve as a roadmap for future endeavors, highlighting the necessity of a collective and cross-sectoral approach to ensure sustained positive impacts on the region's health, welfare, and conservation efforts.