Namibia launches Tripartite One Health National Strategy 2024-2028

NAMIBIA – The Namibian government, in partnership with Africa CDC, officially launched a Tripartite One Health National Strategy 2024–2028 on 19 June 2024. 

This strategy aims to address shared health threats between animals, humans, and the environment through a collaborative approach involving the Ministries of Health and Social Services, Environment, Forestry and Tourism, and Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.

The launch event was officiated by the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, who emphasized the need for the One Health approach in Namibia due to frequently reported outbreaks of zoonotic diseases and the effects of climate change. 

He stated that “75% of emerging pathogens that are known to cause epidemics affecting humans are of zoonotic origin”.

The Tripartite One Health Strategic Plan is based on the vision of promoting healthy ecosystems to minimize the risks and impacts of emerging and re-emerging health threats at the human, animal, plant, and environment interface. 

Its main goal is to establish and institutionalize a sustainable One Health Approach across all sectors in Namibia, starting at the community level.

Africa CDC, represented by Dr Yewande Alimi, One Health Unit Lead, expressed its commitment to strengthening national One Health capacities across the continent and applauded the strong political commitment by the Namibian ministries. 

The WHO Country Representative, Dr Richard Banda, also expressed appreciation for Namibia’s dedication to strengthening the country’s capacity to prepare for, detect and respond to public health emergencies and threats to health consequences.

The Namibian One Health National Strategy is anchored on six thematic areas, including enhancing One Health capacities to strengthen health systems, reducing risks from zoonotic epidemics and pandemics, controlling and eliminating zoonotic diseases, strengthening food safety risk assessment and communication, curbing Antimicrobial Resistance, and integrating the environment in One Health.

Dr Kalumbi informed attendants that the implementation of the strategy will be reviewed annually by the One Health Multisectoral Coordinating Committee and integrated into existing strategies such as the National Action Plan for Health Security, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, and Antimicrobial Resistance control interventions.

The National One Health Strategy outlines a comprehensive action plan with clear goals, milestones, and a dedicated implementation framework. 

The Ministry of Health and Social Services, along with its partners, will work diligently to ensure the successful execution of this strategy, which represents a significant step towards a healthier future for Namibia.

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