One Health Day – videos go live

AnimalhealthEurope (formerly, IFAH) has gone live with our video roundup of their recent Congress in Brussels, which launched their new identity and strategy for the next five years and more video messages will be following on social media to tie in with today’s international One Health Day.

See the video by clicking here.

Good Call Media’s Nik Wood presents a comprehensive overview of the event and also interviews several key players, including the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis, who addressed the organisation’s gala dinner.

AnimahealthEurope’s 2017 conference explored solutions to turn the One Health vision into action. A central platform for the animal medicines industry, the One Health approach prioritises quality of life for people and animals and recognises that healthy animals mean healthy people and a healthier planet. Entitled “One Health: more than a buzzword? Animal health for society from vision to action” the conference, held on 12 October at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels, was solution-oriented. Speakers from industry, EU Institutions, academia and veterinary and public health bodies addressed an audience of some 120 stakeholders and looked to identify tangible steps that each must take in realising One Health improvements.

Setting the scene, the European Commission outlined the EU’s policy on One Health and its wide-reaching successes in terms of disease control. The World Organisation for Animal health (OIE) outlined the role of animal health within the One Health triad, highlighting the need for continued cooperation when it comes to disease preparedness at both European and global level. Several case studies presented served to illustrate the role of healthy animals beyond disease management, highlighting important societal impacts such as supporting food safety and sustainable food production, as well as the many social benefits of animal companionship. AranLIFE, a part EU-funded project, highlighted the role of healthy animals in maintaining biodiversity and the landscape, and how it supports the local economy. Two speakers from DG SANTE and DG AGRI detailed initiatives being taken by the European Commission to support the One Health vision.

The conference took place the day after AnimalhealthEurope revealed its new name and branding at a gala dinner in Brussels held to celebrate the organisation’s 30th anniversary.