title: Health of mobile pastoralists in the Sahel - assessment of 15 years of research and development.
abstract: In the Sahel, between Mauritania and Somalia including Northern Kenya, about 20-30 million people live as mobile pastoralists. The rhythm of their migration follows the seasons and the availability of resources such as water, pasture and salt. Despite their high exposure to zoonoses and problems caused by extreme climatic conditions, mobile pastoralists are virtually excluded from health services because the provision of social services adapted to their way of life is challenging. In cooperation with various partners in the region, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute has been active in research and development in the Sahel for 15 years. Based on the perceived needs of mobile pastoralists and the necessities of development, interdisciplinary research has considerably contributed to better understanding of their situation and their problems. Close contact between humans and livestock necessitates close cooperation between human and animal health specialists. Such useful approaches should be continued and extended.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montavon
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jean-Richard
authors.affiliation: Centre de Support en Santé Internationale, N'Djaména, Tchad.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bechir
authors.affiliation: Centre de Support en Santé Internationale, N'Djaména, Tchad.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Daugla
authors.affiliation: Centre de Support en Santé Internationale, N'Djaména, Tchad.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdoulaye
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Développement ex Laboratoire de Recherches Vétérinaires et Zootechniques de Farcha, N'Djaména, Tchad.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bongo Naré
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Développement ex Laboratoire de Recherches Vétérinaires et Zootechniques de Farcha, N'Djaména, Tchad.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diguimbaye-Djaibé
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche en Elevage pour le Développement ex Laboratoire de Recherches Vétérinaires et Zootechniques de Farcha, N'Djaména, Tchad.
authors.forename: I O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Alfarouk
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schelling
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zinsstag
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*
keywords: Sahel; health; mobile pastoralists