LastMile initiative targets ruminants, such as sheep, goats along with cattle, and poultry. Established by Boehringer Ingelheim, with support from the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, “LastMile” aims to bridge current gaps in access, availability, and awareness of animal healthcare solutions for smallholder farmers in Africa. The program’s mission is to create long-lasting partnerships with the local farming community in an effort to establish and drive sustainable businesses that are integrated into the wider national economy. LastMile was initially launched in Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, and is set to be launched in Tanzania. With “LastMile” users are now able to manage their day-to-day activities and work more effectively with farmers, retailers and veterinarians. The app will help monitor the activities accurately, collect data, measure the impact and reach of the initiative, as well as to improve the understanding and knowledge about the smallholder farmer sector for better-informed decision-making in the future. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project funder, and GALVmed, will also benefit from this app, as more accurate KPI data related to the project will be available. Some of the main features include a calendar section, farm and retail visit sections, training part covering diseases and product information and also surveys to gather specific information about the target market. Farmers will now be able to liaise with field officers remotely and get the necessary assistance via the last mile app. “The ‘LastMile’ initiative is an important part of the company’s vision and aims to support our communities as well as improve both human and animal health. I am pleased we have launched this mobile app which is not only critical for accurate data collection and monitoring, but it also helps teams stay connected, particularly in these challenging times of the pandemic,” Emilie Veillat, Key Account Manager and “LastMile” application lead, The Veterinary Public Health Center at Boehringer Ingelheim.
