The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has urged the ministers of health, agriculture, environment, and water resources to endorse resource mobilization and allocate budget lines for implementing the One Health approach within their ministries,Daily Trust report.
During the inaugural meeting of the National One Health Technical Steering Committee and the commemoration of the 2023 One Health Day in Abuja, the director-general of the agency, Ifedayo Adetifa, emphasized the significance of One Health. He described it as a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and trans-disciplinary approach that operates at various levels, including local, regional, national, and global, aiming to achieve optimal health outcomes by recognizing the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
Adetifa stressed, “The importance of One Health cannot be overstated. Our world faces complex and interrelated health challenges, ranging from zoonotic diseases to antimicrobial resistance, and the overarching threat of climate change. These issues know no borders and impact not only human health but also the well-being of animals and the environment. To address them effectively, we must adopt a collaborative and holistic approach.”
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Furthermore, he called on the ministers to lend their support to optimize and enhance interoperability of preparedness and response systems. This includes promoting joint surveillance across human, animal, and environmental domains, as well as facilitating risk assessments and coordinated responses to challenges within the One Health framework.
