One Health Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy Launched
In a significant development for public health and environmental management, AU-IBAR and Africa CDC have jointly introduced two strategic frameworks: the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prevention and Control Strategy (2025–2030) and the Africa CDC Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Health (2025–2029). These initiatives establish a unified, cross-sectoral approach to address the interconnected challenges of zoonotic diseases and climate change across the continent.
Speaking at the launch event in Addis Ababa, Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, urged stakeholders to transition from planning to execution: “Let us move beyond declarations—now is the time for united, cross-sectoral action. I call on all stakeholders to embrace the One Health Strategy as a continental imperative. Together, we must forge a new era of health security, where animal, human, and environmental health are protected as one. Africa’s resilience depends on it, and our future demands it.”
The development of these strategies was informed by a collaborative, evidence-based process involving Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), technical partners, and civil society. The objective is to cultivate a resilient Africa equipped to manage risks proactively rather than reactively. The Deputy Director General of Africa CDC underscored the necessity for immediate action, stating:
“These frameworks are more than strategy documents; they are Africa’s collective commitment to protecting our people, our ecosystems, and our future. We must move from rhetoric to results. The time to act is now, and the responsibility rests with all of us.”
Echoing this urgency, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health highlighted the intrinsic links within Africa’s well-being: “Our health, ecosystems, and economies are deeply intertwined. We cannot protect one without investing in all. This is a call for action, not another declaration.”
Given that over 75% of emerging human diseases originate from animals, and climate change intensifies health vulnerabilities, these new strategies provide a roadmap to enhance surveillance, improve early warning systems, and integrate responses across public, animal, and environmental health sectors.
These frameworks serve as a call for collective action among governments, RECs, donors, research institutions, and civil society organizations under a shared vision. As the continent navigates an increasingly complex health landscape, these strategies offer essential guidance and underscore the need for decisive, coordinated implementation.
