Society

Yaounde: IRAD gathers experts to shape policy on zoonotic disease prevention.

by Mercy Fosoh
06 Apr 2026 20:57
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Group photo of stakeholders, participants

An institutional workshop focused on the One Health approach to preventing zoonotic diseases was held recently in Yaounde, bringing together researchers, public officials and private sector actors to strengthen coordination and policy direction in Cameroon.

Organised by the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, the meeting aimed to share and enhance findings from the Africa-Cambodia, AFRICAM, project, examine interaction mechanisms among institutions and stakeholders, and contribute to drafting policy briefs to guide decision-makers.

The workshop was held on the theme: “Building Capacity in the One Health Approach for the Prevention of Zoonotic Diseases in Cameroon”.

According to information made public by IRAD, the AFRICAM project targets the prevention of emerging zoonotic diseases across five countries; Cameroon, Guinea, Madagascar, Senegal and Cambodia. It is coordinated by the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development and the Research Institute for Development, with financial support from the French Development Agency.

Participants at the Yaounde workshop included researchers, academics, doctoral students, and representatives from both public and private sectors. IRAD revealed that discussions centred on consolidating research outcomes and encouraging collaboration across disciplines to address health risks at the human, animal and environmental interface.

During the opening session, IRAD’s Deputy Director General in charge of scientific research, Dr Francis Ngome, called on participants to actively engage in discussions, share experiences and propose innovative solutions. The exchanges were designed to produce practical and actionable strategic orientations to support public authorities.

According to IRAD, the workshop forms part of broader efforts to strengthen national and regional systems in detecting and preventing zoonotic diseases, while improving resilience in health and agricultural production systems.

Outcomes from the discussions are expected to inform policy decisions and contribute to coordinated responses to emerging health threats.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3749 of Thursday April 02, 2026