Leveraging The One Health Approach For Successful Public Health Interventions

Cognizant of the importance of the One Health approach in successful public health interventions, on January 31, 2023, Prof. Afework Kassu, AHRI- Director General, Dr. Alemseged  Abdissa, AHRI Deputy Director General, Dr. Aklilu Alemu ,Acting Knowledge Management Director, and Mrs. Dejytnu Mulaw PR- Director held fruitful discussions with Dr. Rea Tschopp, Head of the One Health unit.

During the discussion, Dr.Rea shared highlights of the basic health research, translational research and operational research being conducted by the unit, including updates on huge projects such as;

  • The Jigjiga One-Health Initiative (JOHI) – a 12 year long Swiss Government funded research and development partnership between Jigjiga University, AHRI and Swiss TPH.
  • NIIDS (Novel Infectious Diseases diagnosis and surveillance system) – a research partnership between AHRI and Swiss TPH, focusing on migration health (including zoonosis).
  • Integrated Brucellosis surveillance in pastoral communities – a CDC funded project where a large-scale integrated animal-human sero-surveillance of brucellosis in Afar and Somali region is being conducted.

In order to better influence the culture of knowledge translation to enhance evidence-based practices within the One Health approach, the knowledge management division further reaffirmed its commitment to assist where necessary to enhance the uptake of research evidence through various forums for research dissemination and in preparation of policy briefs.

The PR division also underscored its commitment to work on the advocacy side of every project, including leveraging the already established mainstream media agreement with TV and print media, for a wider dissemination to the general public.

The unit which now has become a fully fledged division under the new restructuring of AHRI, will continue to forge synergetic partnerships where appropriate and use a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and trans-disciplinary approach — working at the local, regional, national, and global levels — with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes in recognition of the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

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