The Africa One Health Network

Issues of One health have gained centre stage in the recent past, and justifiably so. The world is witnessing an increase in pathogen spill overs from animals to humans. These spill overs are driven in large measure by human actions such as population growth, encroachment on wildlife habitats, agriculture intensification and more efficient transport systems that allow people and cargo capable of carrying pathogens fomites to move between regions in a short space of time. These actions have resulted in changes to the environment which has impacted climate change and contributed to zoonotic disease emergence and re-mergence. Indeed, it has been estimated that up to 70% of all emerging and re-emerging infections in humans are of animal origin. The SARSCoV2 infection that causes COVID 19 is just but one of many such infections.

One health employs a multidisciplinary approach to address the interactions the health risks and threats posed by the ever changing interactions between humans, animals and the environment. Surveillance leading to early detection, diagnosis and prompt reporting of disease events has been recognised as key to the effective control of zoonotoic diseases. Global One Health security agenda promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and many other international organisations recognises One Health as a major component to the attainment of UN Sustainable development goals.   

Across the African continent, multiple national and regional One Health initiatives and networks have been developed. These networks have mobilized scientists and policy makers to improve disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, and information sharing, but are not well integrated with each other. To bring a coordinated response to one health challenges on the continent, African researchers and scientists met in Johannesburg, South Africa in February 2019. The meeting was facilitated by the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency and endorsed by the World One Health Platform founders. Participants were drawn from all parts of the continent. The meeting culminated into the formation of the Africa One Health Network (AOHN).