Lamu Unveils Five-Year One Health Strategy to Tackle Human, Animal Diseases

Kenya, 5 August 2026 - Lamu County has launched a five-year One Health Strategic Plan aimed at strengthening coordination between the human health, animal health and environmental sectors to better prevent and respond to disease outbreaks.

The Lamu County One Health Strategic Plan 2026–2030,unveiled on Wednesday at the Lamu Vocational Training Centre, seeks to enhance collaboration among government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders in addressing emerging public health threats.

The launch was presided over by the County Executive Committee Member for Fisheries, Blue Economy, Cooperative Development and Livestock, Sabrina Mkare Jefwa,under the theme: “Strengthening One Health Collaboration for a Healthier, Resilient and Sustainable Lamu County."

Speaking during the event, Ms Jefwa said the One Health approach recognises the close link between the health of people, animals and the environment, providing a unified framework for tackling shared health challenges.

She said the county government was committed to leading implementation of the strategy but noted that achieving its objectives would require strong partnerships with national government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.

"The success of this strategy depends on collective action and sustained collaboration," she said, urging partners to work together in developing innovative solutions and making prudent use of available resources to improve health outcomes.

Ms Jefwa thanked development partners and government institutions for supporting the formulation of the strategy, saying their continued cooperation would be critical to its implementation.

The five-year plan is expected to improve coordination across sectors, strengthen preparedness and response to public health emergencies, and promote sustainable management of natural resources.

County officials said the strategy would help build a healthier and more resilient Lamu by addressing health risks that arise at the interface of humans, animals and the environment, including zoonotic diseases and environmental threats.