Zoetis, a global animal health company, has announced a $15.3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance veterinary care and diagnostic services designed to improve livestock health and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa.

The grant will enable Zoetis to expand its original African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (A.L.P.H.A.) initiative in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda to include aquaculture as well as cattle, poultry, and swine in Kenya, Ivory Coast, and five additional markets in sub-Saharan Africa over five years. As part of the expanded effort, the funding will accelerate access to veterinary products, services, and diagnostic tools to increase the productivity of smallholder farms, with a particular focus on supporting female farmers. In addition, the grant will enable Zoetis to further develop distribution and training models for ‘last mile’ networks, build disease diagnostic services through laboratory networks in cooperation with public and private local partners, and develop outcomes research and digital services.

“We are grateful for the grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as we live our purpose to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals in sub-Saharan Africa, expanding our work to drive greater impact. The combination of Zoetis’s leadership in animal health and experience in forging broad collaborations in emerging markets will allow us to accelerate the advancement of animal health in the region,” said Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck. “Access to medicines and technology will help farmers raise healthier animals, improve productivity, and secure more sustainable revenue, which is critical to the economic development and well-being of the region and its population.” 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ling Beek)