An Afternoon with One Health: An Open Dialogue to Drive Forward Estonia's One Health Initiative
On April 11, 2024, the One Health-Boost (OH-BOOST) and COMBIVET team from the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu facilitated an open dialogue among experts from various academic institutes, healthcare professionals, and government representatives to discuss Estonia's One Health initiative, chaired by Professor Alireza Fazeli and Toomas Tiirats, Director of The Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences.
Key highlights included a comprehensive report by Alireza Fazeli on the Estonian Excellent Center of One Health (EECOH) teaming project, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts for establishment of One Health principals in Estonia. Toomas Tiirats, introduced the Draft of One Health Green Paper, setting a strategic roadmap for Estonia’s One-Health initiative.
The discussion focused on critical topics outlined in the One Health Green Paper, particularly addressing the tracking and tackling of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and promoting mindful data sharing among research institutes to forecast potential future threats to Estonia’s human, animal, and environmental health.
Professor Tanel Tensson from the University of Tartu emphasized the importance of diversity and the integration of environmental specialists into the One Health team.
Alireza Fazeli reiterated the urgency of preparedness for potential disease outbreaks, echoing recent warnings from the Secretary-General of the World Health Organization. He also mentioned the Estonian government's acknowledgment of the significance of One Health in tackling health challenges.
In line with the initiative’s objectives, One Health aims to educate people by integrating its principles into various curricula and offering lifelong learning opportunities for experts at all levels. 'We aim not only to educate the youth through degree programs but also to provide continuous learning opportunities,' explained Alireza.
Maia-Triin Kanarbik, Advisor at Ministry of Social Affairs, expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort, stating, “This meeting really helped us to incorporate science, the government and the industry together.”
Overall, the event underscored the collective dedication towards advancing Estonia's One Health agenda and fostering a healthier, more resilient society for generations to come.
