Assessment of the Activities of Village Committees Combating African Animal Trypanosomiasis in the Cotton-Growing Region of Northern Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT), transmitted by tse-tse flies, is a barrier to the development of livestock farming in Côte d’Ivoire. To strengthen the fight against this disease, Village Control Committees (CVLs) were established in the cotton-growing region. The objective of this study is to evaluate the activities of the VCLs. It is a qualitative study conducted in December 2022 in 28 localities. The sampling method was purposive and random, resulting in 152 individual interviews. The data were processed and analyzed using thematic content analysis and QGIS software. The study showed that respondents associate the period during which the CVLs were operational with a perceived decrease in tsetse flies and in outbreaks of bovine diseases, including TAA. However, their operations were compromised by a lack of monitoring, resources, and incentives. Ensuring the sustainability of the CVLs requires better institutional support and increased community awareness.