Inter-sectoral collaboration for One Health implementation in Vietnam: training, research and EIDs control polices

The Sun Yat-sen University together with Duke University and South China Agricultural University have co-organized the first international symposium on One Health Research in China to bring together professionals from different countries to deepen and encourage this multidisciplinary research approach. The symposium was held from 22 November to 23 November 2014 in Guangzhou, China.

Dr. Hung Nguyen-Viet, senior scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and joint researcher at the Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research _ Hanoi School of Public Health and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute – on behalf of his colleagues from PAHI, FAO, WHO and VOHUN working on One Health in Vietnam - gave an overview on the Inter-sectoral collaboration for One Health implementation in Vietnam: training, research and EIDs control polices. Since Vietnam is considered as a hotspot in emerging infectious diseases (EID), it is of the utmost importance to strengthen its capacity to tackle any crisis that may appear as result of EID. In addition, the One Health approach has been chosen as the best way to develop programs, enhance research and develop EID control policies, through inter-sectoral collaboration. As a concrete example, One Health University Network (VOHUN) provides training to enhance the ability of professionals who have deep expertise in their disciplines, to work collaboratively across disciplines in response to complex one health and ecosystem health issues.  Vietnam Integrated National Operational Program on Avian and Human Influenza (OPI), 2006-2010, this program, as well as Pandemic Preparedness, Emerging Infectious Diseases (AIPED) 2011-2015, and Partnership on Avian and Human Influenza (PAHI) are all important cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary programmes, joint initiatives and actions that contribute to the bigger picture of a One Health sustainable entity in Vietnam.  Hung also sit on a panel to share the One Health implementation experience from Vietnam and South East Asia with colleagues from Thailand, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Nepal, Romania .

This was the first One Health symposium in China and the School of Public Health of The Sun Yat-sen University has founded a center of excellence on One Health to further promote One Health research and training in China.