To address the threat from zoonotic disease, the complex links between humans, animals, and the environment require multidisciplinary collaboration. The global public health community must act now to prevent further complications.
This can be done through One Health – an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems – which is key to addressing zoonotic public health threats, environmental issues and
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
This is one of the main messages from a Webinarhosted by the World Health Organization on Wednesday with more than 800 people following the live stream
Zoom.
The webinar officially launched the One Health companion document for the NTD roadmap for 2021-2030. Bernadette abela-Ridder Veterinary epidemiologist, WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases and Wendy Harrison, Chief Executive, shared their thoughts.
Schistosomiasis Control Initiative Foundation Officer commented on One Health, and the objectives of this document.
To end the neglect and achieve the sustainable development goals. One health: A strategy for action against neglected tropical disease 2021–2030The goal of the Transdisciplinary Health Community Support Program is to support the health community in achieving the 2030 targets.
Cross-cutting strategies that include:
- Building networks and increasing communication among and within different sectors;
- Find common ground to coordinate, and identify opportunities to get going;
- Recognizing that integration can occur at different levels and is not appropriate for all.
- Equitable distribution of resources and investment in prevention at the source
- Leading change while acknowledging and encouraging individual contributions.
Progress can be made by unlocking the political will
Onyeka Erub, Senior Health Advisor for Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE, Mayor, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Onyeka shared the story of Freetown’s NTD priorities and the challenges they faced when using One Health to combat endemic zoonotic disease.
Nearly all of the Sierra Leone districts are endemic for at minimum two NTDs. The burden is high. One Health is not new and many lessons have been learned about how to apply it.
In 2019, the National One Health Platform was established. The National Strategic Plan for One Health was also developed.
Freetown is now focusing its efforts on integrated approaches to combating NTDs. They are demonstrating their impact beyond just the health sector and emphasizing the connections between human, animal, and environmental sectors for development, in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals.
Development Goals. For example, Freetown’s newly established multisectoral rabies control strategy goes beyond rabies interventions to include deworming, treatment of skin diseases and other animal health issues in dogs.
One Health financing to support sustainable changes
Franck Berthe is Senior Livestock Specialist at the World Bank, Washington DC USA
Franck emphasized that NTDs and affected, marginalized communities are at the heart of the World Bank’s goals to end extreme poverty within a generation and boost shared prosperity.
He mentioned the Onchocerciasis Control Programme funded by the World Bank in early 1970s. This program demonstrated how funding a disease program can benefit both health and the environment.
He said that One Health can provide tremendous benefits in comparison to their costs. However sectors often compete for funding instead of being able to share financing as a national investment. In addition, funding could be diverted by epidemics
NTDs can become overwhelmed by these events and are left in a state of panic and neglect. Attention is now shifted to other matters.
Franck said that One Health was included in the 20th replenishment of the International Development Association to support sustainable change.
One Health: Environmental interventions
Lee Ching Ng, Director, National Environment Agency’s Environmental Health Institute, Singapore
Lee Ching explained the environmental interventions that are used to reduce the risk of vectorborne diseases in Singapore. He pointed out how improved living conditions, piped water and waste management have greatly reduced the incidence of dengue.
malaria. However, dengue infections can still be caused by environmental factors such as standing water sources, especially in older buildings, and construction sites and vegetation. This is combined with a humid environment.
offer perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
These risks are being addressed by intersectoral collaboration in Singapore to implement biological controls and alert systems to detect variations in vector numbers.
Involving the veterinary industry to improve surveillance
Harena Rasamoelina, Coordinator, SEGA One Health Network, Indian Ocean Commission, Mauritius
Harena spoke out about the support that the SEGA One Health Network provides for disease surveillance in a network made up of countries belonging to the Indian Ocean Commission, which includes the Comoros (Madagaskar, Mauritius), Reunion, and the Seychelles.
This has allowed for the establishment a surveillance and response system across sectors where health information is shared to increase capacity.
The network supports efforts for the control and elimination of several NTDs, such as rabies and cysticercosis. Members of the Indian Ocean include other NTDs at their request.
Commission.
Harena emphasized the benefits of One Health approaches as well as the importance of involving communities.
The webinar recordingYou can find it on YouTube.
