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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

OIE joins the Africa CDC first One Health Conference

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The OIE contributed to the Africa CDC first OH conference held virtually on 1-3 November 2021 by serving on the scientific committee of the conference that oversaw the review of hundreds of abstracts submitted to the conference, thereby helping to shape the content of the conference for balanced inclusion of animal health and welfare issues.

OIE also presented its 2020 Wildlife Health Framework at the panel session held on 3 November.

 

Picture (c) AUC

 

Next steps for One Health - Wildlife and Environment

The session was Chaired by Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka – Founder & CEO, Conservation Through Public Health.

It also featured the following speakers and presentations

  • Emerging Environmental Issues that Need a One Health Approach presentation by Mr Levis Kavagi – Africa Coordinator Ecosystems and Biodiversity, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • Harmful Algal Blooms presentation by Mrs Esther Garrido Gamarro – Fishery Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Wildlife Health Framework presentation by Dr Chadia Wannous – Regional One Health Officer for Africa, World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
  • Wildlife Sector Evaluation Tool presentation by Dr Catherine Machalaba – Senior Policy Advisor, EcoHealth Alliance
  • Followed by Panel Discussion

Dr. Chadia Wannous, OIE Regional One Health Officer for Africa presented the OIE Wildlife Health Framework that calls for wildlife health to be effectively monitored and managed to reduce the risk of disease emergence and spread at the animal-human-environment interface under the One Health Approach. She highlighted the fact that OIE is working on wildlife health since 1994, with the establishment of its working group on wildlife that advice and support OIE on all health issues related to wildlife.

OIE also maintains a network of experts worldwide from the OIE Reference Laboratories, and Collaborating Centers, to address global topics on animal health such as wildlife disease surveillance. The OIE network of National Focal Points for Wildlife is essential to provide information on wildlife diseases at the national level and implement relevant OIE standards and guidelines on wildlife, following extensive training.

The presentation also provided an overview of a tangible OIE project on wildlife health : the EBO-SURSY project, which is funded by the EU, over a five-year period (2017-2021) and is extended until 2024. It aims to to strengthen early detection systems for wildlife, and improve surveillance and response capacity in 10 countries in West and Central Africa, for four viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) including Ebola, Lassa fever, Rift valley fever and Hemorrhagic fever. Dr. Wannous elaborated that OIE Members have committed to taking action through adoption of the wildlife health framework at the OIE General Session in 2021 with OIE Technical Item 88 SG/9 and accompanying Resolution No. 31, which reinforces the need to promote the role of Veterinary Services as an essential component of One Health resilience.

All wildlife pictures (c) M. Aly (2021)

Our efforts to tackle pandemics should focus on prevention at the source by adopting the One Health approach that brings together multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at all levels to address the drivers and pathways of threats at the animal, human and environment interfaces, while ensuring ecosystem integrity and protection of diversity

Dr. Chadia Wannous, Regional One Health Officer for Africa, World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)

The Wildlife Health framework

The framework has two over-riding objectives

  1. OIE Members improve their ability to manage the risk of pathogen emergence in wildlife and transmission at the human-animal-ecosystem interface, whilst considering the protection of wildlife
  2. OIE Members to improve surveillance systems, early detection, notification, and management of wildlife diseases

The framework outlines six workstreams that are aligned with the strategic pillars of the organization so that wildlife health is truly integrated into the activities of the OIE.

  1. Update and the development of guidelines and standards related to wildlife health,
  2. the improvement of the collection, management, and dissemination of the wildlife health data,
  3. Strengthening the capacity of Veterinary Services in surveillance and risk management.
  4. Development and dissemination of scientific knowledge,
  5. Communication and awareness-raising on the importance of wildlife health, and
  6. Promotion of multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration with stakeholders including OIE international partners working on wildlife health.

 

 

Dr. Wannous concluded the presentation highlighting that in the near future OIE is planning to:

  • Work with its members and expert network to improve wildlife health surveillance and better use of wildlife health surveillance data to inform policies on wildlife health. For that, OIE will develop a a dedicated wildlife disease notification system called WAHIS-WILD.
  • Communicate and advocate for wildlife as an asset rather than a threat
  • Support the integration of wildlife health into international standards on animal health
  • Support the integration of wildlife health into national policy and legislation frameworks
  • Integrate wildlife health into OIE core programs, including IHR-PVS National Bridging Workshops (NBW), Pathway for Veterinary Services (PVS) and OIE Observatory
  • Develop guidance on reducing risk of disease spillover events through wildlife trade and along the wildlife supply chain (with the aim of protecting wildlife and human health)
More information

One Health

AFRICA CDC

AFRICA CDC INAUGURAL ONE HEALTH CONFERENCE

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Project

EBO-SURSY

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