One World, One Health
In July of 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the One Health Initiative, a plan that would run from 2022 to 2026, with the goal of recognizing and acting upon the interconnectedness of human health outcomes and animals, plants, and ecosystems at large. Main objectives include preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks, which account for around 65% of diseases transmitted to humans, as well as maintaining ecosystem health and countering rising antimicrobial resistance. The One Health Initiative is run under the One Health Joint Plan of Action, overseen by WHO, FAO, UNEP, and WOAH. Its six key pillars also include strengthening national health systems, addressing endemic diseases, and integrating ecosystem concerns into health policy.
So far, the initiative has seen key indicators of progress through the extended mandate of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel, collaboration with PREZODE to oversee human risk for zoonotic diseases, and the creation of the first global research agenda with human-health interventions against antimicrobial resistance. Work with WHO on national legislation has also led to One Health agencies in certain countries and a rise in medical-surveillance data systems, giving civilians and health officials more resources to tackle pressing healthcare issues.