Picture this: a bustling assembly of brains at the SEAOHUN 2024 International Conference, where global health virtuosos gathered to unravel the complex weave of human, animal, and environmental health. This riveting gathering, orchestrated in harmony with the International Society for Animal Hygiene (ISAH), unfurled under the thematic canopy entitled “One Health in Action.” Aptly, the event underscored the paramount necessity of crafting holistic, policy-level frameworks to adeptly tackle disease outbreaks and pave the way toward a robust, healthier globe.
Spanning a dynamic two days, the conference magnetized over 450 attendees hailing from 48 distinct nations. This eclectic mix of academics, healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers set the stage for a veritable intellectual cornucopia. With an impressive lineup of more than 215 research papers and 164 distinguished speakers, the conference delved into critical subjects like antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease barricades, and policy synchronization. SEAOHUN emphatically championed the “One Health” archetype, advocating for the palpable interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health as a key gear for navigating emergent health menaces.
The conference was lit by the intellectual fireworks of keynote speaker Prof. Dirk U. Pfeiffer from City University of Hong Kong, who eloquently espoused a vision of systems thinking to cultivate a workforce that’s not only future-ready but also armed with interdisciplinary and technological acumen. His rallying cry? “Without thriving ecosystems, humanity and animals inevitably falter.” He went on to express the critical role of revolutionizing food production in securing sustainable food supplies and ensuring public health for the generational tide.
Southeast Asia emerged as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) identified epicenter for zoonotic diseases, meaning the torch of preparing the new health vanguard burned brightly throughout discussions. SEAOHUN’s trajectory as a vanguard promoting interdisciplinary collaboration was conspicuous, as voices emphasized the resilience required in health systems to quell burgeoning infectious diseases, defeat antimicrobial resistance demons, and surmount climate-induced health calamities. Dr. Michael L. Tee, helmsman of the SEAOHUN 2024 Conference, extended heartfelt appreciation to indispensable allies like USAID and Chevron for subsidizing SEAOHUN’s mission to nurture a robust One Health workforce and bolster health security facets throughout Southeast Asia.
Marilyn Crane of USAID resonated the harmony of collaboration, labeling it a linchpin in the fight against pandemics, climate conundrums, and antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Katherine Bond, USAID’s Senior Global Health Safety Advisor, extolled networks like SEAOHUN for their pivotal role in the knowledge symphony and innovation exchange, while FAO’s Dr. Asfri Rangkuti campaigned for a multidisciplinary modus operandi to combat the boundary-leaping maladies in animals, propelling efforts at ASEAN’s Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ).
Education and Workforce Initiatives
Country-specific hurdles took the spotlight as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pratap Singhasivanon of SEAMEO TROPMED Network, Thailand, articulated the transformative potential of technology-spurred innovations, including AI and machine learning, for elevating disease foresight and public health erudition. He underlined the pressing need for a deftly trained workforce to shepherd One Health systems into sustainable excellence.
Innovative educational ventures unfurled at the rendezvous flaunted SEAOHUN’s proactive narrative. A stellar exemplar: Thailand’s Kasetsart University (KU) lifting the curtain on the One Health Core Competency (OHCC) program, a brainchild for high school prodigies, steering them toward vocations in health, eco-stewardship, and animal welfare. Across the Cambodian horizon, the SEAMEO TED initiative dedicates itself to grooming vocational and technical educators to lace One Health ideologies into their pedagogy, aspiring to seed health and sustainability cognizance within communities. This spirited venture captivates 120 students, 30 educators, and 150 community patrons in enlightenment.
The SEAMEO SEPS initiative ambitiously sweeps across six nations, grafting One Health tenets, wider sustainability, and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) into scholastic nutrition enhancements. Not stopping there, Thailand’s SEAMEO TROPMED Initiative launches its opening phase, plotting a regional crescendo to polish public health literacy and prime nimble responses to looming threats.
Conference panellists spotlighted collaboration’s starring role, accentuating alliances between schools, communities, and local jurisdictions as crucial cogs to success. Teachers emerged as pivotal orchestrators of these orchestrations, with community interaction lushly painted as a key piece, ensuring One Health ideologies transcend classroom walls into the broader populace.
Future Goals for One Health
Forging ahead, SEAOHUN steadfastly aims to magnify One Health pedagogy and cultivate interdisciplinary alloying in the face of climate upheavals, pandemic foresight, and food sovereignty. Dr. Ronello Abila of WOAH urged a metamorphosis of the ASEAN One Health Declaration into tangible on-the-ground frameworks while championing the inception of a global One Health movement.
As a harbinger of change, SEAOHUN persists in an endeavor not just to curb but to optimize health security across Southeast Asia, fueling intellectual bridges, and shepherding a new age in health expertise. Here’s to a future where resilience and health security aren’t just buzzwords but the bedrock of global prosperity.
It’s amazing to see so many experts gathered to tackle global health problems! The ‘One Health’ approach is vital for our future.
Sounds like a lot of talk with not much action. How will all these discussions turn into tangible changes?
True, it’s about implementation. But international discourse is the first step to unified action.
The real change happens with policies at the national level. Conferences like these help set an agenda.
While I support ‘One Health’, do you think relying on technology too heavily in health might lead to new vulnerabilities?
Tech can be risky, but supervised AI and machine learning can significantly improve disease prediction!
Yes, but over-reliance without appropriate skills can be problematic. Balancing is key.
Tech failures can happen but shouldn’t stop progress. It’s about creating fail-safes.
Agriculture needs to be more sustainable, but no one talks about farmer’s struggles.
Absolutely, sustainable practices must consider the farmer’s livelihood too.
I think government subsidies for green transitions could help bridge that gap!
Interdisciplinary education is critical. Diverse skills in health workforces will shape our world.
But can current university systems adapt quickly enough?
Wow, a bunch of suits gathered in a room discussing how we need them more. Does anyone else see the irony?
True, but these ‘suits’ often pave way for innovations, even if at a slow pace.
I guess we need both critics and supporters for a balanced development.
Cynical, but these discussions often lead to real funds and real changes.
Are animal health issues getting enough focus, or just overshadowed by human problems? Thoughts?
Prof. Pfeiffer’s call for ecosystem health is spot on! No healthy people without a healthy planet.
How about pharmaceutical companies? Should they be partners, or keep them at arm’s length?
I’m inspired by educational initiatives like the OHCC program helping the youth. More real-world skills, please!
Focusing on SE Asia is about time. Imagine the impact of broader implementation of One Health worldwide!
Opportunity and inequality are global. Balancing is everything.
How do these conferences ensure the global south’s concerns are truly integrated?
Love how SEAOHUN is not just a ‘conference’ but sparks ongoing effort. Hope the momentum keeps up.
Isn’t it dangerous to link health so closely with climate? Could divide attention.
Cross-border collaborations are the way to go! Alone, countries can’t handle global health challenges.
Dr. Katherine Bond’s point on collaboration resonates deeply. Without teamwork, we achieve nothing.
Impressive conference but will governments really convert talk into action? They usually don’t.
History shows us some success stories, even if it takes time.
Teaching kids about One Health might just be our secret weapon. They’re the future!