Mobilizing Community Resources for Disease outbreak Financing: A Case Study of Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Program (CP3) in Anthrax Outbreak Response in Narok County, Kenya (2021-2023).”

Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) in Narok County, Kenya, employed a One Health approach to bolster community-led outbreak response, emphasizing local resource mobilization. This study evaluated how communities finance public health interventions during outbreaks, complementing government efforts. 64 community health promoters (CHPs) were trained in community-based surveillance (CBS) and health promotion using the Epidemic Control for Volunteers toolkit. Activities included household/school health clubs’ visits, and dialogues to enhance disease prevention and detection. Monthly meetings with health workers, animal health assistants (AHAs), and local authorities facilitated coordinated planning. CHPs reported six anthrax alerts via CBS platform, verified by veterinary services. Community dialogues, led by CHPs, AHAs, and local administrators, developed response plans without external funding, including ring vaccinations and risk communication. Facing government vaccine shortages, private veterinarians provided subsidized vaccinations at $0.31 per animal. Communities contributed funds, enabling 69,334 cattle vaccinations costing $24,233 to protect livelihoods worth $31,200,300. This initiative highlights the efficacy of local resource mobilization and public-private partnerships. Communities demonstrated ownership by financing interventions, underscoring the cost-benefit of grassroots engagement. The integration of CBS and multi-sector collaboration ensured timely detection and response. Outcomes reveal that community-driven strategies, when empowered with training and partnerships, enhance resilience and resource efficiency. The study concludes that sustainable outbreak preparedness requires embedding community-led financing and decision-making into national frameworks, leveraging local capacities to bridge gaps in public health systems. By prioritizing community agency, CP3 offers a replicable model for low-resource settings, emphasizing that equitable health security hinges on participatory, One Health-aligned approaches.