On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a press release providing some details of the first annual quadripartite meeting of United Nations agencies working to roll out the One Health approach and aiming to achieve together what no single sector can do alone.

In addition to WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) participated.

Recent international health emergencies such as Covid-19, mpox, Ebola, zoonotic diseases, food safety, antimicrobial resistance challenges, as well as ecosystem degradation and climate change, clearly prove the pressing need for resilient health systems and accelerated global action.

These agencies´ goal is there should be greater involvement and political willingness from nations to implement the One Health approach and this should be translated into decision-making by officials from the different states.

In this regard, the quadripartite meeting made several recommendations to countries including “prioritizing One Health on the international political agenda, increasing understanding and advocating for adoption and promotion of improved intersectoral health governance.”

“To build a healthier planet, we need pressing action to drive vital political commitments, increased investment and multi-sectoral collaboration at all levels,” the text stated.

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