The One Health Paradigm Shift
by Laura Urdes
The one health approach recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. The global partners in One Health are the Quadripartite organizations – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) - and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The WHO One Health Initiative team was set up to serve as the Secretariat of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP). The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), formulated in 2021 has an operational definition of One Health, aimed at developing a common language and understanding around One Health, and to promote translation across sectors and areas of expertise. The quadripartite organizations (FAO, OIE, UNEP and WHO) are currently coordinating and implementing One Health in line with the OHHLEP One Health definition.
One Health’s main topics are health, food, water, energy, and environment. The envisaged cross-sector and cross-discipline approach should contribute to addressing health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance and promoting health and integrity of ecosystems.
Currently, a One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA) for 2022 – 2026 is undergoing development through combined efforts of the quadripartite organizations, supported and advised by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel. The Joint Plan’s aim is, by the year 2026, to operationalize One Health at different levels, and to promote collaboration and learning across relevant sectors and disciplines. A draft of the Action Plan is available here.
From the educational standpoint, of particular interest is currently the International Student One Health Alliance (ISOHA), supported by the One Health Commission, of which aim is to promote One Health to students from any field of study, preparing the Next Generation to further the One Health paradigm shift.