Following various attempts to create awareness about zoonotic diseases, including implementing several communication strategies, Mozambique has adopted more innovative ways to address recurrent challenges such as limited effectiveness, top-down approaches, lack of contextual adaptation, and insufficient integration of the One Health (OH) concept.
A new research - action project, Communicating One Health through Science, Art and Society (CASCOH) will be launched in Massingir district. The initiative aims to improve communication strategies on zoonotic diseases using an integrated and participatory One Health approach. The focus will be on communities living within and adjacent to Limpopo National Park.
A participatory and interactive approach
CASCOH will adopt a bottom-up, community-centered methodology to draw on local knowledge and foster inclusive, engaging communication strategies. The project, to be implemented from November 2024 to November 2025 features two interconnected components:
- Scientific research component
This phase will explore local perceptions, knowledge, and practices related to zoonotic diseases and One Health. It will assess community demands for information on zoonoses—especially those linked to domestic and wild animals. A mixed-methods approach will be used, combining semi-structured interviews and household surveys among residents of four selected communities: Mavoze, Chibotane, Bingo and Mucatine.
- Intervention Component: Co-designed theatre performance
Insights from the research phase will be used to develop an interactive theatre performance that communicates key One Health messages. The performance will be co-created with researchers, community members, a local theatre group, and a national art specialist. The group will receive training and technical support from the Cultural Centre of Franco-Moçambicano (CCFM).
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
The project will be implemented by a diverse team of social scientists from Eduardo Mondlane University and CIRAD-France; human and animal health experts from Agriculture Research Institute of Ministry of Agriculture (IIAM), Environment and Fishing; artists from CCFM and Massingir Tilapia Star Theatre group; and community development professionals from community-based organization, Youth Association for Sustainable Development of Massingir. This collaborative effort ensures that both the scientific and artistic dimensions of the project are grounded in local realities and tailored to community needs.
At the end of the project, an end-line survey will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the intervention on community awareness and understanding of zoonotic diseases and the One Health concept.
Sand pit project
The CASCOH project is one of eight projects funded by the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) project following a call for multidisciplinary One Health project proposals to address local challenges, across the 12 COHESA countries. As part of the Sandpit process, teams pitched their proposals and the winning pitches are promoted, receive funding as well as technical support and mentoring from COHESA to implement their projects.
Author affiliations:
- Faculdade de Letras e Ciências Sociais, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), Maputo, Mozambique.
- Direcção de Ciências Animais, Instituto de Investigação Agrária de Moçambique (IIAM), Ministério de Agricultura, Ambiente e Pesca, Maputo Mozambique.
- CIRAD, UMR MoISA/Faculdade de Letras e Ciências Sociais, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM), Maputo, Mozambique.