One Health Framework Implementation for Zoonotic Disease Control in Nasarawa State

The One Health framework, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health systems, offers an effective strategy for controlling zoonotic diseases that disproportionately burden rural Nigerian states. This study evaluated the implementation of One Health principles in zoonotic disease control programs in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. A qualitative study design was employed, involving key informant interviews with 25 stakeholders including veterinary officers, medical officers, environmental health officers, and local government administrators. Document reviews of state health and agricultural policy frameworks were conducted, and a field assessment of one selected pilot community was included. Findings showed that intersectoral collaboration between veterinary and human health services was limited and largely informal, driven by individual professional relationships rather than institutional frameworks. No formal One Health coordination platform existed at the state level, and surveillance data were not routinely shared between sectors. Disease control activities for brucellosis and rabies were conducted independently by each sector. Budget allocations for zoonotic disease programs were insufficient and fragmented. The study concludes that Nasarawa State lacks the institutional architecture necessary for meaningful One Health implementation. Recommendations include establishment of a state One Health coordination committee, formal data-sharing agreements between departments, joint training exercises, and allocation of dedicated funding for intersectoral zoonotic disease programs. Keywords: One Health, zoonotic disease control, intersectoral collaboration, Nasarawa State, public health policy