KENYA – To promote One Health, a holistic approach that unifies the well-being of animals, human health, and the environment, the African Union – Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), has launched the African Union One Health Data Alliance Africa Project (AU-OHDAA).
The project was announced at a two-day workshop that took place in Naivasha, Kenya whose main focus is to present AU-OHDAA objectives, establish stakeholder roles, foster collaboration, and review the technical reports that underpin the project.
Moreover, with an emphasis on collaboration, integration, and shared knowledge, the AU-OHDAA project sets the stage for a more interconnected and resilient approach to health and ecosystem management across Africa.
The AU-OHDAA is a two-year initiative by AU-IBAR to enhance digitalized One Health governance and management in Africa, building on previous work on One Health that AU-IBAR has undertaken in the past with partners and in alignment with key continental policy frameworks.
Recognizing the increasing incidence of zoonotic diseases and the significance of shared health ecosystems, the AU-OHDAA project aims to coordinate all One Health domains to work in synergy for the greater good.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is providing funding for this initiative, which is being implemented by the German Cooperation and Development Agency (GIZ).
The overarching goal of the African Union’s One Health Data Alliance Africa Project for Africa is to enhance digital One Health data and governance across the continent of Africa.
The project will create a continental One Health information policy, architecture, and maintenance model, as well as by strengthening technical and infrastructural capacities and launching a digital platform for the continent.
Presently, One Health data has largely remained underutilized, under-analyzed, and under-disseminated in respective sector silos and has slowed the pace of creating information and digital intelligence through data science-based algorithms or machine learning thereby affecting evidence-based decision-making.
During the official opening of the meeting, Dr. Christopher Wanga, representing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development in Kenya, highlighted how the One Health Data Project’s outputs will be a game-changer as it will break down data barriers for effective disease management across sectors.
“Let’s collaborate across sectors and unite against data silos,” said Dr Wanga at the AU-IBRA workshop.
Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, the African Union Representative, underscored the need for a global, all-encompassing One Health approach.
“This framework is crucial in reshaping policies, overcoming data harmonization challenges, and enabling evidence-based decision-making processes,” Dr. Bahiigwa note
Breaking down the One Health approach
The One Health approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and the broader environment, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to ensure clean water, energy, air, safe food, and sustainable development.
AU-IBRA reports that Africa bears a heavy burden of emerging, re-emerging, and endemic diseases that impact Public Health, animal resources, livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and economic growth.
Additionally, available evidence indicates that most of the emerging diseases have an animal origin with 75% of them classified as zoonosis.
Moreover, an incremental 63% jump in diseases spread from animals to people in Africa has been seen in the last decade.
In addition, increased concerns of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and food safety that require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to offer an opportunity to optimize the health of animals, humans, and the environment.
Building and sustaining the growing momentum for One Health through management
AU-IBRA notes that while the One Health approach has gained momentum, the effective management and integration of health-related data remain a challenge.
Incidentally, the lack of utilization of a whole-community approach in the management of zoonoses and the lack of harmonization and integration of data platforms in the one health sphere.
This has resulted in the loss of information, lack of information, and ultimately to poor detection, identification of drivers and risks, socio-economic and gender impacts, determination of trends, and inability to make predictions leading to poor prevention, preparedness, and response to zoonoses.
Regrettably, most of the data related to zoonotic diseases, epidemics, foodborne illnesses, and antimicrobial resistance have also remained fragmented across sectors.
Consequently, this has led to a lack of comprehensive insights, slowing the pace of advancements in data science and digital intelligence.
The lack of integration and harmonization of data platforms, particularly in the One Health sphere, has resulted in information loss and poor governance and management.
AU-OHDAA is laying the foundation for a strong Africa Healthcare system
The project is anticipated to assist develop a One Health Information Architecture and Policy that will guide the exchange and utilization of One Health information.
Moreover, the project will establish the technical and institutional groundwork for digitalized One Health governance and management.
Finally, AU-OHDAA will create competency profiles and qualification materials for specialists involved in building, operating, and maintaining One Health information platforms.
The project’s ultimate goal is to promote information integration, digital intelligence, and effective One Health governance and management.
The AU-OHDAA project recognizes the need for a broader view of One Health that encompasses animal health, human health, and environmental health domains.
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