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
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.
Glenn David, Executive Vice President and Group President at
Zoetis, said: “Studies show that when households in a developing
region acquire livestock, they report higher income, 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 its 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. The company also
delivered 35 products – primarily for preventative care -- to the
markets, in addition to the Zoetis diagnostics portfolio in
A.L.P.H.A. countries, which are all crucial components of
sustainable development in the animal health sector. Four years
ago, there were just four Zoetis products available to farmers in
Sub-Saharan Africa 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, making animal
health solutions 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 diseases surveillance, vaccinating
animals, and increasing the use of diagnostics and training in
responsible antibiotic use for bacterial treatments.
Unique solutions improve animal health and sustainability
through cold-chain management
“The A.L.P.H.A. initiative has helped vets enhance their
technical knowledge, while also helping farmers improve
productivity and make the sector more sustainable. Farmers in the
region now embrace better farming practices, improving 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 last four years 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 the 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 enable 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
Contributes 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 to the 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.
1 FAO report 2019
DISCLOSURE NOTICES
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains
forward-looking statements, which reflect the current views of
Zoetis with respect to: sustainability commitments, goals and
aspirations, the A.L.P.H.A. initiative, and other future events.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance or
actions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, or if management's underlying assumptions prove to be
incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those
contemplated by a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Zoetis
expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. A further list and description of
risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020,
including in the sections thereof captioned “Forward-Looking
Statements and Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Item
1A. Risk Factors,” in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our
Current Reports on Form 8-K. These filings and subsequent filings
are available online at www.sec.gov, www.zoetis.com, or on request
from Zoetis.
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