The first ever One Health Summer Institute in Central and West Africa region was launched in Cameroon
Understanding the past to better predict and prepare the current and future workforce to address complex challenges.
The One Health Summer Institute (OHSI) an initiative of the Association of Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health (ESPV) was launched at Université des Montagnes at Bangante, Cameroon on December 5-7 2023. An opening ceremony, an inaugural lesson followed by a panel discussion, a seminar and two courses on : (i) Systems thinking and Wicked problems ; (ii) Applied geographic information system to preparedness, prevention, detection and response to health event and disasters were the main components of this first edition.
“Feeding 2.5 billion of African by 2050-Challenges and perspective: How One Health implementation can contribute to address these challenges?” was the theme of the inaugural lesson delivered by Pr. Appolinaire Djikeng, DG of International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and CGIAR Senior Director of Livestock-based system. The panel composed of Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of Africa Union Inter-Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), Pr. Appollinaire Djikeng, Dr Conrad Ntoh Nkuo, the Permanent Secretary of the Cameroon One Health platform, Dr. Jean Paul Ondoua, Director of development of productions and Animal Industries at Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry and Mr. Nnanga Noubouossie, Senior Officer at the Directorate of planning and territory development at the Ministry of Economy and planification discussed on Innovative solutions to address challenges to feed 2.5 billion of African by 2050. Revisiting or adjusting the current legislative and policy frameworks, build human capital and use ICT to gather data at sources and generate information for decision making and consumers are the proposed solutions from the panel to address these challenges.
Applied predictive modeling and decision-making
How to make a good use of the outputs of predictive modeling on regular basis by the decision-makers were the objectives of the seminar. It was attended by senior directors from ministries member of the Cameroon One Health platform. The session 1, on climate, communicable diseases and action was led by the Cameroon National Observatory on climate changes. The process used to generate climatic prediction, its effect on different sectors, the means used to inform these sectors and challenges to implement recommendations from the national observatory were discussed. The session 2 on Policy and action focus on cost-effectiveness/cost-benefit analysis applied to African horse sickness outbreak in Senegal and the 2016 Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreak in Cameroon and a demonstration of the One Health policy model tool.
This seminal edition was done through a partnership with the Cameroon One Health platform, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Africa Union Inter-Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). It has achieved its expectations and it has opened the door for the second one which will be taking place in August 2024.
For further information on ESPV click on www.espv.org
Contact
Dr Henri Rene Zambou
President of ESPV
Email:henri.zambou@espv.org
Source : ESPV, 2023
