1. On October 16, 2024, the One Health Partnership for Zoonoses, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), organized the International One Health Scientific Conference (OHSC) under the theme "International One Health Practices and Lessons Learned for Vietnam." The meeting was co-chaired by Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of ILRI, and Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, authorized by Vice Minister Phung Duc Tien, who was planned to co-chair with the ILRI Global Director.
2. The conference was held as part of ILRI's 50th anniversary celebration and in response to One Health Day. It highlighted best practices in One Health from Africa, the Americas, and Asia, presented directly by leading international scientists from 10 countries, along with representatives from academia, the private sector, and the agriculture, health, and environmental sectors, all aimed at promoting cross-sectoral and regional collaboration.
3. The One Health Partnership in Vietnam has over 20 years of experience in implementing One Health activities, originating as the PAHI (Partnership for Avian and Human Influenza) in 2003 and officially renamed as the One Health Partnership for Zoonoses in 2016. Since then, Vietnam has made significant progress in addressing urgent health challenges caused by zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, illegal wildlife trade, and food safety issues. Although recognized as a pioneering nation in implementing One Health initiatives with early and well-coordinated practices, Vietnam still faces gaps in intersectoral and multilateral cooperation, technical capacity, multi sectoral coordination, and policy implementation.
4. The conference brought together experts from 10 countries, as well as representatives from academia, the private sector, and the agriculture, health, and environmental sectors. Through promoting intersectoral and regional collaboration, the conference outlined a roadmap for improving health and ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems in Vietnam and other countries in the Global South. It provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss and share international experiences, selectively applying them to Vietnam's specific conditions. One key solution emphasized was enhancing the capacity and interdisciplinary approach of One Health, which involves a comprehensive and harmonious correlation among human, animal, and environmental health to bolster resilience against future pandemic crises.
5. Conveying a message from Vice Minister Phung Duc Tien of MARD, Mr. To Viet Chau emphasized that Vietnam strives to remain a leader in implementing One Health initiatives through the primary role of MARD, with close collaboration and high responsibility from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to address complex challenges posed by zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety. The One Health approach aims to foster multi-sectoral coordination and strengthen multilateral cooperation in dealing with pandemic issues, which is a crucial solution to protect health and ecosystems while increasing resilience against future pandemics. Collaborating with the international community in regions worldwide, particularly hotspots like Africa, and regions with significant scientific and technical experience in the Global South, are future cooperation directions for One Health Vietnam. Therefore, One Health Vietnam calls for extensive collaboration with partners from Africa, the Americas, and Europe to jointly implement common initiatives such as Prezode and Health Alliance.
6. In his opening speech, Mr. Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of ILRI, emphasized the importance of the One Health approach in Vietnam: "This conference is not just a response to the issues we are facing but also an opportunity to change how we integrate health across the human, animal, and environmental sectors. Livestock, as a key pillar, plays a crucial role in addressing and preventing zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety. Good livestock practices ensure animal health through housing, biosecurity, epidemiological hygiene, feed, and medication, thereby safeguarding environmental and human health and directly preventing future disease outbreaks. ILRI is proud to play a significant role in addressing zoonoses through the international research and projects it has coordinated and implemented in Vietnam."
7. Domestic and international speakers from the agriculture, health, and environmental sectors shared lessons and case studies, with the goal of translating global strategies into national-level action. The discussions identified gaps and opportunities for implementing effective solutions, aiming to make recommendations to strengthen intersectoral collaboration. The conference attracted over 100 in-person attendees and hundreds more online from various provinces and locations worldwide, fostering a positive, enthusiastic environment for scientists and applied researchers committed to global One Health.
This conference was co-sponsored by the CGIAR One Health Initiative (OHI) and the ASEAN-CGIAR Regional Program on Innovations for Food and Nutrition Security.
Information MSK tại link: https://onehealth.org.vn/gioi-thieu.news
Information ILRI và One GCIAR tại link: www.ilri.org và www.cgiar.org
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