SEAOHUN 2024: Uniting Human, Animal, and Environmental Health

Prof. Dirk U. Pfeiffer

Health experts from around the world underscored the critical interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment, calling for further policy-level actions to mitigate potential impacts posed by the outbreak of diseases and make the world healthier and more resilient.

At SEAOHUN 2024 International Conference held in collaboration with the International Society for Animal Hygiene (ISAH) under the theme One Health in Action, experts from diverse sectors, including academia, health practitioners, researchers, and policymakers conducted two days of in-depth discussions, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative planning to address emerging global health challenges.

A total of 215 papers were presented, with 164 distinguished speakers delivering sessions on topics including antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease prevention, policy and coordination mechanism  , and capacity building. The conference drew over 450 attendees representing 48 countries.

 In his keynote address titled Enhancing Global Preparedness: Reforming the Future Workforce and Utilizing Technological Tools in Managing Pathogen Transmission, Prof. Dirk U. Pfeiffer, Director of the Centre for Applied OH Research and Policy Advice (OHRP) at City University of Hong Kong, called for a systems-thinking approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health to build a future-ready workforce equipped with interdisciplinary skills and technological tools.

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 “Sustainability is a challenge and opportunity,” he said, urging a holistic perspective in dealing with food safety throughout the value chain. “Ecosystem health, human health and animal health are tightly connected. You can’t have healthy human without healthy ecosystems.”

 For the nature, food security, resilience and conservation, a transformative perspective is required to transform the food production system for the benefits of the next generations, he added.

 He emphasized that given the complexity of what needs to be changed, policy makers need to be presented possible scenarios of future outbreaks and mitigation options as these interconnected health challenges requires collaboration, innovation, and commitment.  

His conclusion was amid critical challenges posed by pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change, these global challenges also present opportunities deeply connected to the One Health agenda.

Preparing the next generation of health professionals amid these challenges was the highlight at the conference, particularly those in Southeast Asia which, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), is a critical hotspot for emerging zoonotic diseases.

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Initiatives were discussed that highlighted the importance of inclusive education models involving teachers, students and communities to better equip vulnerable populations againts health threats. At this juncture, SEAOHUN’s role as a key player in bringing together academia, governments, and organizations was strongly underscored, with an overarching focus on building resilient health systems that address emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health challenges.

Speakers at the conference expected the collaboration under One Health Network as well as other networks to gain momentum with experiences from several capacity-building programs.

Dr. Michael L. Tee, Chair of the SEAOHUN 2024 International Conference, expressed gratitude to key partners, including USAID and Chevron, for their support. He reflected on SEAOHUN’s journey since its inception in 2011. SEAOHUN, or Southeast Asia One Health University Network, now encompasses eight countries and 112 universities across Southeast Asia.

He called for continued efforts in capacity-building, stressing the importance of collaboration between SEAOHUN, AFROHUN, and other global networks. “This conference emphasizes SEAOHUN’s critical role in strengthening the workforce for One Health efforts and advancing health security,” Dr. Tee remarked.

As Ms. Marilyn Crane, Senior International Higher Education Advisor at USAID, said in her welcome address: “Collaboration is key to addressing the complex challenges of pandemics, climate change, and antimicrobial resistance.”, at the session

“One Health in Action: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in Southeast Asia” Dr. Katherine Bond, USAID, Senior Global Health Security Advisor for the Regional Development Mission for Asia, Thailand, noted networks in One Health, like SEAOHUN, are instrumental in sharing knowledge, innovation, and advocacy.

 Dr. Asfri Rangkuti, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific region, said multidisciplinary approach is important to mitigate the risks of transboundary animal diseases. FAO supports the establishment of ASEAN Coordinating Center for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) which will coordinate and ensure collaborating among ASEAN countries. He introduced FAO’s transformative approach, focusing on “desiloization,” or breaking down silos between sectors to foster collaboration.

While highlighting global recognition of One Health, Dr. Ronello Abila, Sub-Regional Representative for South-East Asia of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), stressed the importance of transforming the ASEAN One Health Declaration into country-specific initiatives and advocated for the transformation of One Health networks into a global One Health movement.

Dr. Pratap Singhasivanon1
Dr. Pratap Singhasivanon

Country-specific, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pratap Singhasivanon, SEAMEO TROPMED Network, Thailand, outlined key challenges, including a shortage of a One Health workforce, inconsistent policies, and insufficient funding. However, he emphasized the opportunities ahead, such as the use of AI and Machine Learning in disease prediction and the strengthening of surveillance systems and public health education. He urged the need for technology-driven innovations to build a “future-ready” One Health system.

Presented at the session “Strengthening One Health Education in Southeast Asia” moderated by Chevron Corporation’s Senior Social Investment Advisor Dee Bourbon was the insight how Southeast Asian countries are taking proactive steps in integrating One Health concepts into education and community engagement to ensure that the next generation is well-equipped to address challenges.

Among them was the Kasetsart University (KU) One Health Core Competency (OHCC) for High School Students, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about One Health among high school students. Through engaging educational materials, the project seeks to inspire young people to consider careers in sectors related to health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. The initiative has successfully developed educational campaigns that emphasize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

n Cambodia, there is SEAMEO TED: Developing Teachers for One Health Awareness that emphasized training vocational and technical teachers to incorporate One Health concepts into their lessons, particularly in fields like agriculture and food processing. The goal is to empower teachers to promote health and sustainability practices among their students and the broader community. The initiative targets 120 students, 30 teachers, and 150 community members, fostering healthier behaviours and community engagement .

Implemented in 29 public primary schools across six countries in Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand) is SEAMEO SEPS: School Well-being and Lunch Improvement Programme. The initiative integrates One Health principles, sustainability, and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) into school well-being programs. It involves teachers and community members in improving school feeding programs, with the aim of promoting healthier school environments.

SEAMEO TROPMED Initiative has been kicked off in Thailand, promote cross-border collaborations within Southeast Asia. From Phase 1 that One Health educational materials and interactive tools are developed and disseminated to students and teachers to foster understanding of zoonotic diseases and public health challenges, the initiative is being implemented in the Philippines and expected to be adopted across the region. The objective is to improve public health literacy at a young age to lay the foundation for effective public responses to health threats in the future.

Panellists agreed that collaboration between schools, communities, and local governments is essential for successful implementation of these projects. While teachers enjoy higher capacity to deliver health education and act as key facilitators of One Health education and community awareness, community engagement was highlighted as a crucial component, ensuring that One Health concepts reach not only students but also the broader community.

As the focus shifts to the future of One Health in Southeast Asia and beyond, SEAOHUN will continue its mission to expand One Health education, strengthen workforce capacities, and support interdisciplinary collaboration through initiatives in climate change, pandemic preparedness, and food security.

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