Evaluating the Effectiveness of a One Health Pilot Program for Zoonotic Disease Control in Benue State

One Health pilot programs provide practical evidence on the feasibility of integrated zoonotic disease control, but rigorous evaluations of such programs in Nigeria are rare. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a One Health pilot program implemented across four local government areas in Benue State, North Central Nigeria from 2021 to 2023. A quasi-experimental before-and-after design was employed with comparator communities in non-pilot areas. Program activities included joint animal and human disease surveillance, mass dog vaccination, brucellosis farmer education, and shared reporting platforms. Pre- and post-program surveys assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices among 300 farmers and 60 health workers in both groups. Disease reporting rates and vaccination coverage were extracted from program records. Brucellosis awareness in program communities increased from 12% to 53% between baseline and endline. Dog vaccination coverage in pilot areas rose from 18% to 68%, while comparator communities showed no significant change. Joint disease reporting meetings were held quarterly, and 14 zoonotic events were jointly investigated during the program period. Challenges included staff rotations disrupting institutional memory and budget interruptions in year two. The study concludes that the One Health pilot produced measurable gains in zoonotic disease awareness and control behaviors in Benue State. Scale-up recommendations include sustained funding, institutionalized inter-sector coordination mechanisms, and integration of program activities into state routine health plans. Keywords: One Health, pilot program evaluation, zoonotic disease control, Benue State, intersectoral collaboration