Ethiopia Celebrates Global One Health Day & World Rabies Day
Global One Health Day and World Rabies Day were jointly celebrated in Addis Ababa on November 8, 2024, , highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to health that spans the human, animal, and environmental sectors.
Mrs. Firehiwot Abebe, State Minister of the Ministry of Health, in her speech reinforced the theme of the day, calling for continued advocacy for the One Health approach. She highlighted the progress Ethiopia has made in recent years, noting that the establishment of the National One Health Secretariat is a key achievement in ensuring coordinated efforts in health management. “We are here to celebrate our collective progress, reflect on the challenges we still face, and reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the One Health approach,” Mrs. Firehiwot said. She also stressed the need to build on past successes to further enhance the nation’s ability to detect, respond to, and prevent cross-species health threats.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), emphasized the Ethiopian government’s commitment to strengthening One Health coordination. He noted that the establishment of the National One Health Secretariat, hosted by EPHI, marked a significant milestone in addressing public health threats that emerge from the interface of humans, animals, and the environment. Dr. Mesay particularly highlighted the successful efforts in combating endemic diseases like rabies, which continue to be a major public health concern in Ethiopia and globally.
Dr. Mesay also underscored the importance of Global One Health Day as a global initiative that draws attention to the need for collaborative efforts in tackling health threats that span across species and ecosystems. He called for a unified approach to ensure both national and global health security.
Dr Feyissa Regasa, Head of Ethiopia International Health Regulation and One Health office has also delivered a presentation on the overview of the national One Health implementations. Key One Health sectors also signed a reaffirmation commitment MOU.
The event featured keynote addresses from representatives of various partner organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), as well as international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), USAID, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), Addis Ababa city administration farmers and urban agriculture development commission and UK Health Security Agency (UK-HSA). These partners reflected on Ethiopia’s progress and outlined the continued efforts needed to combat emerging health threats.
The day also included presentations on national achievements and a panel discussion on the ongoing challenges and future directions for the One Health approach in Ethiopia and globally. The event underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to a sustainable One Health strategy, which is seen as essential to safeguarding the health of both people and animals, while preserving the environment.