Special edition summarizing the scientific discourse which took place during OHCEA’s first international conference on One Health in September, 2013

Abstract

FORWARD OHCEA

Welcome to this special edition which summarizes the scientific discourse which took place during OHCEA’s first international conference on One Health in September, 2013. The conference drew a multidisciplinary team of infectious disease specialists, scientists, environmentalists, clinicians, anthropologists, veterinarians, wildlife experts, policy makers and academicians together to share knowledge on One Health, strengthen networks and create a roadmap through which the One Health approach could be collaboratively promoted across the continent of Africa and around the world.

The theme of this conference, ‘One Health and the Control of Infectious Diseases: Building Capacity, Systems and Engaging Communities’ reflects OHCEA’s emphasis on building sustainable public health systems and resources, through institutional development, government and community engagement in in a bid to enhance the capacity to prevent and respond to infectious diseases and emerging pandemics.

OHCEA is a network of universities in Central and Eastern Africa which are collaborating to build One Health capacity and academic partnerships between the member institutions in the region and with governments. OHCEA membership includes 14 Central and Eastern African Schools of Public Health (7) and Schools of Veterinary Medicine (7); and US partner institutions, The University of Minnesota (UMN) and Tufts University. The overall goal of this collaboration is to enhance One Health policy formation and implementation, in order to contribute to improved capacity of countries to respond to any emerging pandemics in the region. Details of the network and its activities are can be found at www.ohcea.org

OHCEA is particularly pleased to future in the special bulletin of AU-IBAR on, “Animal Health and Production in Africa.” This collaboration is just one of the ways through which AU-IBAR is promoting the One Health approach across the African continent.

OHCEA’s 1st International One Health Conference was financially supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the USAID Emerging Pandemics Threat (EPT) RESPOND project.

Ass. Prof. William Bazeyo
Chairman of Deans’ Summit
OHCEA