The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a compelling plea to the Ministers of Health, Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources, urging their full support for resource mobilisation and budget allocation to operationalise the One Health approach within their respective ministries.
During the inaugural meeting of the National One Health Technical Steering Committee in Abuja, the Director-General of NCDC, Ifedayo Adetifa, fervently stressed the significance of this approach and the need for concerted action across sectors.
“One Health embodies a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and trans-disciplinary approach operating at various levels to achieve optimal health outcomes by recognising the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and their shared environment,” Adetifa emphasised.
The Director-General underscored the magnified importance of One Health, highlighting the intricate web of health challenges facing the world, including zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and the looming threat of climate change.
He further elucidated that these issues are indiscriminate, transcending borders, and wielding influence not only on human health but also on animal welfare and the environment. To effectively address these multifaceted challenges, he urged Nigerians to embrace a unified, all-encompassing approach.
Adetifa implored the ministers to throw their weight behind the optimum maximisation and interoperability of preparedness and response systems, entailing joint surveillance across humans, animals, and environments, alongside risk assessments and responses to One Health challenges.
