Background and Objectives:
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are on the surge due to global and climate changes. The “Global Vector Control Response 2017–2030” strategy calls for community engagement and inter- and intra-sectoral action, as exemplified by the One Health (OH) approach. Evidence needs to be gathered about how countries are engaging communities for VBDs OH prevention and preparedness.

Methods:
The MediLabSecure project (www.medilabsecure.com [1] - European Commission/NDICI THREATS FPI/2021/427-564) aims to prevent VBDs by promoting OH approaches to emerging arboviruses within an international network of 22 countries across the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Sahel Regions. A situation analysis, including an online survey and a workshop, were promoted within the network to explore to what extent the countries engage communities for arbovirus prevention and preparedness with a OH approach.

Results:
Within the MLS network around half of the countries national VBDs plans or strategies include community engagement and 15 countries have community systems for arbovirus prevention and preparedness, mostly involving vector and disease surveillance. These systems embrace at least two sectors (human health, entomology or animal health), and most of them share data with institutional surveillance systems. Countries not mobilising communities deem this as feasible and identified the main barriers in the lack of financial support and the difficult integration with the institutional systems. To support the implementation of VBDs OH community-based prevention and preparedness an enabling financial and policy framework, evidence about design, implementation and effectiveness of community systems are necessary.

Conclusion:
The survey and the workshop identified community-based systems in place within the MLS network and areas for improvement. Decision-makers would be supported in the co-design of OH community-based systems for arbovirus and VBDs prevention and preparedness, integrated with institutional systems. This case-study could be replicated in other countries to support them in the identification of opportunities to improve community engagement. Links:------[1] http://www.medilabsecure.com