CAIRO: The League of Arab States has stressed the importance of implementing the “One Health” approach at national, regional, and global levels to ensure a healthy, safe, and dignified life for humans while also safeguarding animal and environmental health, thereby reducing the risk of disease outbreaks and epidemics.

This was stated in a press release issued by the League today on the occasion of Arab Health Day, observed annually on 4th September.

This year’s celebration is themed “Promoting the One Health Approach”, which is approved by the Council of Arab Ministers of Health at its 60th regular session held on 26th May 2024 in Geneva, which included approval of the Arab Republic of Egypt’s request to host the celebration.

Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of Social Affairs Sector at the League of Arab States, emphasised that the “One Health” approach is an integrated strategy aimed at achieving a balance between human and animal health. It relies on the close links
between these fields to establish new methods for monitoring and controlling diseases, ultimately improving global health.

She noted that this approach comes as a lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a human health crisis resulting from a virus transmitted from animals to humans.

She stressed the importance of supporting cooperation and coordination among different sectors in member states to close the gaps in implementing the “One Health” approach, especially as health systems alone cannot address health epidemics and pandemics.

She added that the Council of Arab Ministers of Health is working to enhance this approach by adopting various strategies, activating the work of its affiliated committees, and strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders to mitigate public health threats, in addition to collaborating with partners in international organisations to achieve this goal.

Source: Emirates News Agency