Implementing One Health Concept in Rural Communities of Sierra Leone

The Objective of the research is to bring rural people together control rabies in their communities. One health issues need to be accepted and well implemented in most rural setting of developing nations where health care delivery is still a mirage. This paper examines the challenges and approaches of implementing one health concept at rural communities in Sierra Leone. Rapid and participatory rural appraisal was used to collect information from invitees, Non-Governmental Organizations operating in communities, direct and indirect beneficiaries in and around the project area, including officials from the District Council, councillors, ward representatives, Paramount Chiefs, community leaders, health workers, International and National Non-Governmental Organizations, Traders, Animal Owners and officials from ministry of Health and Agriculture. This study found that implementing One Health in this type of rural community has been difficult due to a variety of factors including a lack of trained available personnel, poor infrastructure, and a weak health system in the animal and human sectors, as well as a lack of organised institutions and financial mismanagement. It also highlighted one-health needs and relevant zoonotic diseases as a starting point for implementing the one-health idea.One of the zoonoses discovered is rabies, which has been highlighted as a factor that needs to be improved in order to accomplish rabies control in rural areas.