One Health and Kenya’s AMR response

What is One Health?

One Health is an approach that protects the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems together. Their health is connected, so healthcare, farming, food production and environmental protection need to work together.

For AMR, this matters because resistant microorganisms can spread between people, animals and the environment through contact, food and water. Preventing infections, using medicines responsibly and reducing contamination all contribute to the response.

Six sectors in Kenya’s AMR response

• Human health Healthcare, pharmacy and laboratory services support infection prevention, diagnosis, responsible treatment and surveillance.
• Animal health Veterinary services and animal keepers support vaccination, disease prevention, farm biosecurity and responsible medicine use.
• Plant health Crop protection and good agricultural practices help prevent plant disease and support careful use of antimicrobial pesticides.
• Environmental health Safe water, sanitation, waste and wastewater management help reduce contamination and antimicrobial pollution.
• Fisheries and aquaculture Aquatic animal health, fish-farm biosecurity and responsible veterinary medicine use support healthier fish production.
• Food Food safety and hygiene help prevent contamination during production, processing, sale and preparation.

Education, trade and finance support the skills, policies and investment needed across these sectors. Government and county services work alongside researchers, professional bodies, civil society, businesses, communities and development partners.

How One Health helps prevent AMR · The Secretariat’s coordination role