Strengthening One Health Implementation and Investment in Southeast Asia
In recognition of regional responses to global health challenges in Southeast Asia—recognized as a hotpot for many novel and re-emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide—the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN) organized a two-day workshop in Bangkok from 19 to 20 December 2023.
The workshop brought together 38 participants from seven countries to exchange experiences related to One Health operationalization and investment at both national and regional levels. Participants represented not only ministries, government agencies, universities and research institutions, but also donors, international and regional organisations, and national One Health platforms of the countries. The workshop was co-funded by the CGIAR One Health Initiative and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)–CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program.
In opening remarks, Appolinaire Djikeng, director general of ILRI, shared the challenges in implementing the One Health approach despite advocacy efforts from the One Health Quadripartite, governments, donors and scientific communities. He emphasized that limited investments hinder the implementation of One Health, and that One Health has been an important to CGIAR food systems research, with strong collaborations with partners in Southeast Asia for over 10 years.
Wacharapon Chotiyaputta, senior veterinary expert, Department of Livestock Development, Thailand, shared examples of initiatives to strengthen regional One Health responses, including the development of tools for monitoring and evaluating international collaborations, enhancements in legislations within the ASEAN Charter, and the organization of regional workshops to translate One Health principles into practice.
In his keynote address, Gyanendra Gongal, senior public health officer at the World Health Emergency Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Southeast Asia in New Delhi, and regional Quadripartite coordinator in the Asia Pacific region, stressed the importance of a One Health strategy. He shared the Quadripartite One Health Joint Action Plan, a resource that could support the development of a strategy for the region.
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You can access to the report and video from the workshop below;
