Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is already affecting human and animal health sectors negatively. The UN General Assembly has listed AMR among issues that need urgent address; subsequently FAO/OIE/WHO tripartite took lead and jointly developed Global Action Plan (GAP) to tackle the problem. States and Governments have developed AMR National Action Plans (NAP), Policies and Communication Strategies. In health communication realms AMR is a distinctive and novel phenomenon. Consequently, communication theories and principles on this issue have not been tested adequately; even as literature around AMR is growing. While there are lessons that can be learned from previous and ongoing health communication campaigns targeting various audiences and coined around behavior change strategies; AMR is certainly a unique and maiden case. Kenya developed and is implementing its AMR - NAP. Kenya is among few countries that have developed and implemented an AMR Communication Strategy with the goal to create awareness and subsequently change audience behavior. This paper presents a review of available literature, reports, Kenya experiences and theories that can be applied to AMR communications. It illustrates the gaps, opportunities and challenges and proposes strategies that can be applied at the moment as more literature on AMR communication is collected through research and documentation of country experiences.

The prioritization of neglected diseases in the policy making framework requires heightened advocacy [WHO, 2006]. Mass media positive publicity is among approaches that can be used to achieve this. This paper discusses practical use of mass media to do publicity and advocacy for a neglected disease and its vector. It uniquely presents online links to the analyzed newspaper and television news and opinion articles on tsetse and Trypanosomiasis. The paper shares entry points into mass media advocacy from a lessons learned perspective and notes the importance of understanding how the mass media works in order to achieve advocacy of neglected diseases using sleeping sickness as a case study.

BackgroundLivestock farmers' attitudes, practices, and behaviors are major factors in infection prevention and control of animal diseases. Kenya has the fourth largest global camel population, and the industry has grown over the last two decades, transforming beyond the traditional camel-keeping areas to include peri-urban camel trade and value chain growth. The dromedary camel is resilient, and it is a preferred species in the arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya. However, it still faces many health and production challenges; to identify infection drivers and risky behaviors for camel respiratory illnesses and conditions in Kenya, we conducted a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey.MethodUsing a set of tools (questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions), we interviewed camel owners, herders, agro-veterinary outlets, and other relevant value chain stakeholders in Garissa and Isiolo counties (n = 85). Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics.ResultsMost camel owners/herders are male and most are relatively uneducated (85.5%). The camels were used primarily for milk and meat production, income generation, and transport. Larger herd sizes (>30 camels) and owner/herder's lack of formal education are risk factors for owner-reported respiratory illnesses in camels. Major clinical signs of respiratory conditions were coughing (85.7%), nasal discharge (59.7%), and fever (23.4%). Diseases, lack of feeds, theft, and marketing challenges are the major constraints to camel production in Kenya. Owners-herders use drugs indiscriminately and this may contribute to antimicrobial resistance challenges.ConclusionPractitioners in the camel value chain want more commitment from the government and animal health officials on support services and access to veterinary services. Watering points, grazing areas, and marketing points are the primary areas for congregating camels and have a significant potential for disease spread. Kenya camels have a massive capacity for rural and ASALs' livelihoods transformation but the identified health challenges, and other issues must be addressed. Further studies on the Kenyan camels' respiratory microbial ecology are important to understand microbial risks and reduce the burden of zoonotic infections. Intensification of risk communication and community engagement, and messaging targeted at behavior change interventions should be directed at camel value chain actors.

This study examined the design of a target Enterprise Architecture (EA) that can enable Micro-finance Institutions (MFIs) in Uganda improve financial service delivery to communities through use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Pride Micro-finance Limited (PML) was investigated with specific focus on their mission and goals, business processes, information/data, applications, actors, and technological infrastructure. Data was collected from two branches of PML using questionnaires, observation and document reviews. This data was analysed qualitatively and the results of the analysis indicated that PML faces a number of challenges in financial service delivery; like inability to reach out to its customers in a cost effective manner, inefficient ways of processing customer information, and data/information security risks. Based on findings from this study, a target EA capable of enabling PML reach out to its customers in a more sustainable, efficient, and effective manner was designed and recommendations for its implementation made.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of communication participants on adoption of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) Vaccine among Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) pastoralists in Kenya. Methodology: The study population was pastoralists in Narok South Sub-county. Sample size was 468 respondents inclusive of qualitative and quantitative samples where 440 responded to questionnaire, 24 in focus group discussions, and 4 in key informant interviews. Cross-sectional research design entailing collection of qualitative and quantitative data was used to assess association between variables. Multi stage, purposive, simple random, systematic and stratified sampling techniques were then employed to come up with respondents. Data derived from 468 respondents was analyzed using statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20.0 and presented using regression coefficients and ANOVA. Findings: All respondents engaged in discussions with others before vaccinating cattle against CBPP. This is because as members of social groups, they interacted with each other through networks, a dominant mechanism for diffusion. Within parameters of experts, veterinary officers and agro-veterinary sales people were influential. In the community, family and neighbours were equally influential and among peers were elders and herders. These influencers were effective because of their attributes and social qualities; trustworthiness and credibility, accessibility, knowledgeability, government authority, advised on many issues, related easily with others and were friendly. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Some people have influence over others in CBPP vaccine adoption among ASAL pastoralists. Governments, veterinary researchers, and communication experts need to leverage on them to encourage diffuse of the vaccine. These influencers could also be trained on some basic aspects of disease reporting, control and eradication.