One Health EJP participation in the Geneva Health Forum 2022 – 25th May 2022.
The One Health EJP successfully participated in The Geneva Health Forum 2022, held as a hybrid conference event on 3rd– 5th May. Ludovico Sepe, the One Health EJP Science to Policy Advisor, represented the Consortium at this event. He attended the Forum and participated in two workshops focused on One Health questions, where he highlighted the role of the One Health EJP in discussions on One Health science-policy interface and training activities.
The Geneva Health Forum was created in 2006 to bring together key actors to help find solutions to global health challenges. The Forum provides a continuous platform for collaboration and organises one of the largest international conferences on global health held biannually. Since this year’s conference had a strong focus on One Health, it was important for the One Health EJP to contribute to formal discussions at this key event. The four directors of the Quadripartite organisations (FAO, OIE, UNEP, WHO) opened the event, pointing out to the need of a paradigm shift in One Health to rethink our connection with the environment.
The first workshop “Time to rethink the science-policy interface? From COVID-19 lessons to strengthening One Health global policies” reflected on the role of One Health experts in shaping a credible science-policy interface for future One Health crises management. Participants looked at the best examples in the science advice ecosystems, and discussed about how One Health scientific expertise could best inform policymaking during a crisis arising at the animal-human-ecosystem interface.
The second workshop “What training should we build for One Health / planetary health?” looked for ways to improve One Health training, starting from early academic education. Attention was drawn to the virtuous example of the One Health EJP Education and Training activities, highlighting the multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral aspects of the One Health EJP beneficial for the development of students and early career researchers. Participants acknowledged the central importance of forming future leaders in One Health, who will then advance the One Health/Planetary Health approach in their own organisations.
We thank the Geneva Heath Forum for the opportunity to contribute to these valuable One Health discussions!
Photo of Dr Monique Eloit, Director General of the OIE, presenting at Geneva Health Forum – taken by Ludovico Sepe.
