One Health technical and ministerial meeting to address zoonotic diseases and related public health threats

The major international organizations such as the WHO, FAO, OIE, WAHO RAHC, the World Bank and USAID, have convened a four-day meeting in Dakar, Senegal, from 08 to 11 November 2016 with the aim to foster the adoption and implementation of the One Health concept in West Africa. The organizers have ambitious goals, namely to strengthen prevention, detection and response to emerging infectious disease threats, including zoonosis and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

This meeting will be divided into both technical and ministerial-level discussions. A total of 200 participants, for the technical and ministerial meetings respectively, are expected included the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS) and the research consortium Afrique One-African Science Partnership for Intervention Research Excellence (ASPIRE) that will be represented by Prof. Bassirou Bonfoh, Director of CSRS and Afrique One-ASPIRE.

The specific objectives of the One Health meeting are the following:

1. To sensitize participants on the technical and operational aspects of the One Health approach, including progress to date, challenges and lessons learned in Africa and West African sub-region;
2. To develop national approaches to institutionalizing the One Health approach;
3. To develop a regional agenda for institutionalizing the One Health approach, including partner commitments for a harmonized support;
4. To obtain strong political commitments from the ministers to implement the One Health approach in their countries.

The expected outcomes are:

• Participants have a better understanding and broadened perspective of One Health approach and associated benefits;

• The challenges and barriers to implementing the One Health approach at sub-regional and country levels are identified, discussed and solutions are agreed upon;
• Regional One Health Strategic Roadmap is developed and endorsed by Member States benefiting from existing tools and mechanisms developed jointly by the WHO and OIE;
• Member states draft plans of action for institutionalizing the One Health approach on the national level;
• Platform of inter-country collaboration and communication are reviewed, including mechanisms which encompass transboundary networks.

• Recommendations are made to national authorities for strengthening the One Health approach including collaboration with relevant sectors and partners are identified;
• Ministers agree on the Regional One Health Strategic Roadmap and are committed to support the implementation of the One Health approach in West Africa.

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