2026-09-05 08:52:40
The 9th World One Health Congress (WOHC9) officially opened today at the Lisbon Congress Centre in Portugal, marking the beginning of a series of events taking place from 4–7 September 2026, bringing together more than 1,200 participants, nearly 600 scientific posters, and more than 80 discussion sessions, workshops, plenary sessions and thematic events.
Organized by the Global One Health Community (GOHC), WOHC9 is one of the largest forums for the global One Health community, bringing together scientists, policymakers, health, veterinary, environmental and agricultural experts, representatives of international organizations, the private sector and civil society to share scientific evidence, practical experiences and promote solutions to increasingly complex health challenges.
This is the first time since the 3rd World One Health Congress held in Amsterdam in 2015 that the World One Health Congress has returned to Europe, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections between the European One Health community and international partners and networks.
The opening ceremony of WOHC9 featured senior representatives from UNESCO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and Ireland – the country currently holding the Presidency of the European Union.
The messages delivered during the opening session demonstrated that One Health is increasingly recognized not only as an approach to intersectoral collaboration, but also as an important framework for managing health risks at the national, regional and global levels.
The UNESCO representative emphasized the role of science and technology in advancing One Health in connection with sustainable development. The Director General of WOAH focused on the need to overcome boundaries between different health sectors in order to fully realize the potential of One Health. The European Commission highlighted opportunities to advance the European Health Union through One Health. The EFSA representative addressed Europe’s role and opportunities in the current context, while ANSES shared outcomes from the One Health Summit in Lyon, and Ireland presented its One Health vision during its EU Presidency.
The WOHC9 programme focuses on a wide range of issues shaping the global One Health agenda, including pandemic prevention and preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, biosafety and biosecurity, education and human resource development, One Health financing and implementation, innovation and artificial intelligence in AMR prevention and control, food-system resilience, climate change, ecosystems and health, biodiversity, and vulnerable communities.
Notably, the Congress is held under the patronage of UNESCO and has been officially recognized within the framework of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, highlighting the increasingly important role of One Health in advancing sustainable development goals.
Viet Nam is participating in WOHC9 through the Viet Nam One Health Network, with the participation of the Secretariat of the One Health Partnership for Zoonotic Disease Prevention (OHP), together with numerous national and international agencies, research institutes, universities and partners, continuing to connect and share Viet Nam’s experience with the global One Health community.
Viet Nam has more than 20 years of experience in developing and advancing the One Health approach, evolving from the Partnership for Avian and Human Influenza (PAHI) into the One Health Partnership for Zoonotic Disease Prevention (OHP). During the 2021–2025 period, the OHP was further strengthened through a multisectoral coordination mechanism, an annual high-level One Health Forum, technical working groups, and the participation of government agencies, research institutes, universities, international organizations and development partners.
The OHP has become an important platform for connecting programmes, initiatives, research and resources in the One Health field, supporting national priorities in disease prevention and control, food safety, antimicrobial resistance and other health risks at the human–animal–environment interface.
Viet Nam’s participation in WOHC9 therefore not only provides an opportunity to keep abreast of international scientific advances, but also to strengthen dialogue, share experience and expand cooperation with the global One Health community, as Viet Nam enters the implementation phase of the One Health Partnership Framework for 2026–2030.
Notably, PREZODE – an international initiative launched by France to promote early prevention of pandemic risks – is an important partner with which Viet Nam is actively coordinating and engaging. Viet Nam also seeks to strengthen cooperation with and receive support from PREZODE in consolidating and implementing the Viet Nam One Health Partnership (OHP) in the new phase.
Within the framework of WOHC9, Viet Nam will participate in sharing its experience at the thematic session chaired by PREZODE on 6 September 2026, entitled “Operationalizing One Health Prevention: Building Science–Society–Policy Interfaces from Local Action to Global Governance”, which focuses on translating One Health prevention into practice through stronger connections between science, society and policy, from local action to global governance.
Viet Nam’s participation in the 6 September session is an important opportunity to strengthen Viet Nam–PREZODE cooperation, share Viet Nam’s practical experience and promote international support for the priorities of the OHP for 2026–2030.
On 5 September, PREZODE, in cooperation with the World Bank, will organize the session “From Response to Prevention: Financing and Partnerships for Sustainable One Health Impact”, focusing on the transition from response to prevention, as well as financing mechanisms and partnerships for sustainable One Health impact.
Alongside the OHP Secretariat, WOHC9 also features the participation of many international partners that have been working with Viet Nam to advance One Health.
Among them, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) – an institution co-chairing the OHP Technical Working Group on Food Safety – is participating in the Congress and sharing research findings and practical experiences on One Health, particularly at the interface of human health, animal health, food systems and the environment.
The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) – an institution co-chairing the OHP Research-to-Policy (R2P) Working Group – is also participating in the Congress, continuing to promote stronger links between scientific research and policymaking.
In addition to ILRI and CIRAD, many international and national organizations within the Viet Nam One Health Partnership ecosystem are also participating in WOHC9, including United Nations agencies, research organizations, universities, development organizations and technical partners.
The presence of members and partners of the Viet Nam One Health Network at WOHC9 contributes to strengthening international connections, sharing practices and experiences, promoting science–policy collaboration, and mobilizing resources for Viet Nam’s One Health priorities in the new phase.
WOHC9 in Lisbon is therefore not only an international scientific forum, but also an opportunity for Viet Nam to strengthen its engagement with the global One Health community, highlight its practical experience and expand partnerships to support the implementation of One Health during 2026–2030.
Further updates on Viet Nam’s activities and participation at the Congress will be provided in the coming days.
PHUONG VU, OHPS VIETNAM
