The African Livestock Productivity and Health Advancement (ALPHA) Initiative is a three-year collaborative programme between Zoetis and the University of Surrey’s vHive, co-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Zoetis. Partnering with Ahmadu Bello University (Nigeria) and Makerere University (Uganda), the initiative aims to enhance livestock productivity and health in sub-Saharan Africa through capacity building, improved diagnostic infrastructure, and increased availability of veterinary medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics.

Targeting poultry, cattle, pigs, and small ruminants in Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, ALPHA adopts a “baseline–intervention–measure–share” approach to assess and enhance animal health, production, and socio-economic outcomes. Field studies on poultry health in Nigeria evaluated disease prevalence and viral diversity, identifying key challenges in farm management and disease control. Complementary work investigated antibiotic prescribing practices among veterinarians and para-veterinarians in Nigeria, revealing widespread use of antibiotics—including for non-bacterial diseases—and limited use of diagnostic testing.

Innovative diagnostic tools such as the Hb/Hct Meter and iOLight microscope were field-tested, and digital tools including PathPal, FarmCard, LabCard, and Anilyth were developed to support data-driven veterinary practices. Targeted training programmes in disease surveillance, epidemiology, and data management strengthened local professional capacity.

Collectively, the ALPHA Initiative demonstrates the value of public–private partnerships in delivering sustainable veterinary health improvements and evidence-based interventions, contributing to food security and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa.