To accelerate coordinated strategy on human and animal health, strengthen partnership
March 18, Rome/Paris/Geneva/NairobiLeaders of three international organisations working in these sectors have reported significant progress in the last year as they expanded their group and added the UN Environment Programme to address the challenges of human, animals, and ecosystem health.
This week’s annual executive meeting saw the formation of the Quadripartite by the Tripartite Partnership for One Health. It consists of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health.
One Health is a sustainable approach to optimizing the health of people, animals and the wider environment. It unites diverse disciplines, communities and sectors to promote well-being, tackle health threats and improve ecosystems. It addresses the collective need of clean water, energy, and air, safe, nutritious food, and action on climate changes, and contributes to sustainable development.
“We are stronger with UNEP joining the Tripartite, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said, adding: “UNEP is already active in relevant areas of Tripartite work.” The Memorandum of Understanding notes that UNEP “sets the environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.”
The work of the newly expanded alliance will be focused on a One Health Joint Plan of Action, which includes six main action tracks: enhancing countries’ capacity to strengthen health systems under a One Health approach; reducing the risks from emerging or resurfacing zoonotic epidemics and pandemics; controlling and eliminating endemic zoonotic, neglected tropical or vector-borne diseases; strengthening the assessment, management and communication of food safety risks; curbing the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and better integrating the environment into the One Health approach.
Implementation is the key issue
As FAO handed over the rotating chair of the secretariat to WHO, Director-General Qu noted the past year’s substantial progress in efforts to collectively develop the action plan and added: “Now the challenge is implementation: how do we translate our work on the ground to support our Members? And how do we mobilize funding and financing mechanisms to support the Joint Plan for Action?”
In his opening remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We need to build a more comprehensive and coordinated One Health governance structure at global level. We need a strong workforce, a committed political will, as well as sustained financial investment. We need to develop a more proactive way of communicating and engaging across sectors, disciplines and communities to elicit the change we need.”
Monique Eloit, OIE Director General acknowledged the key milestone of the MoU with UNEP, saying: “Today, I am particularly pleased that our Tripartite collaboration is expanded to include UNEP as an equal partner. Its expertise, networks, and mandate will be a significant contribution to One Health. This new chapter in our partnership will make us stronger and more prepared to serve our members and address global health challenges”.
UNEP’s Executive Director Inger Andersen said: “What is apparent to everyone involved in One Health is that no one sector can solve the many problems we face alone. To secure human, animal and environment health – to secure the very future of this planet – we need more collaboration and partnerships. If we are to prosper together, it is essential that we stand together and collaborate. UNEP, as the newest full member of the Alliance, is ready to do its part as an equal partner.”
One Health Awareness has increased
As the third year of COVID-19’s pandemic enters, the world is becoming more aware of One Health’s importance as a long-term viable and sustainable strategy. It is now firmly embedded on the global agenda from the G7 to the G20 to UN Food Systems Summit. A One Health Commitment was signed at the UN Food Systems Summit to support a global One Health Coalition. It aims to foster engagement across sectors, disciplines and all levels of society. As part of the Summit’s follow-up, this commitment will help shape national agrifood sector transformation pathways.
The Tripartite implemented a number of other initiatives last year on One Health, including Anti-Microbial Resistance. The One Health High-Level Expert Panel played an important advisory role in scientific research. One Health Regional Platforms were strengthened, and new ones were created to share best practices and information. Important progress was also made in establishing a Joint Framework on AMR, a Global Leaders’ Group on AMR, and in work towards an AMR Multi-stakeholder Partnership Platform, mobilizing resources and action to fight antimicrobial resistance that threatens the lives of millions. These achievements are the result of the successful cooperation among the Tripartite & UNEP, which has now reached an important milestone with the signing of a formal collaboration accord.
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