Written by Hope Kameta

04/12/2021

One Health recognizes that the health of humans, animals and their shared environment are mutually dependent and coexist in a delicate balance which relies on collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approaches working beyond traditional boundaries to achieve optimum health outcomes. The reported benefits of One Health include strengthened global health security through improved disease detection, preparedness, response, and management and improved health and sustainability of our ecosystems.

One Health stems from a complex historical background that is often accredited to Rudolf Virchow and Calvin Schwabe who highlighted the importance of One Health approach through their determination to unify human and veterinary medicine to address complex health challenges including zoonotic and infectious diseases. The meaning of One Health continues to evolve with experts noting the need to involve more disciplines within One Health framework through transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches.

One Health approach has attracted various national and international partners and remains a key focus for the joint tripartite (WHO-FAO-OIE) and UNEP. The One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) is the official One Health advisory panel represented by a broad range of members from multisectoral and multidisciplinary backgrounds relevant to One Health including human health, animal health, environmental and planetary health among others.

The One Health definition by OHHLEP states:

“One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems”.

This new comprehensive definition of One Health by OHHLEP aims to promote a clear understanding and translation across different areas of expertise as well as multiple sectors. The simplification of One Health definition ascertains its comprehension and application at community, national, regional, and global levels. Notwithstanding, its effective implementation is dependent on effective communication, collaboration, coordination, and good governance.

The unified actions of the WHO, OIE, FAO, and UNEP, combined with expertise of the OHHLEP will be crucial in mainstreaming, operationalization and advancing Global Action Plan for One Health at global, regional, national and community levels. This achievement will be accomplished through supporting countries to establish and achieve national targets and priorities for interventions; investment mobilization; promotion of societal approach; and stablishing a platform for collaboration, learning and exchange of best practices and lessons learnt across sectors, countries, and regions.

Without a doubt, OHHLEP provides wealth of knowledge and experiences from experts with vast backgrounds in zoonotic and infectious disease management, ecosystem health and conservation, One Health Policy and capacity strengthening. Moreover, the recruitment of experts from different geographical locations will strengthen regional coordination and collaboration and promote learning and exchange.

This new One Health definition aligns with the objectives of Triphasic Health Alliance. THA will continue to support ongoing global efforts to implement One Health activities in line with this definition.