To advance ‘One Health’ initiative, MOH inks agreement with IICA

Guyana has taken steps to advance the ‘One Health’ initiative with the signing of an agreement with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Malcolm Watkins, and IICA’S Representative to Guyana, Wilmott Garnett signed the agreement early Wednesday.

According to WHO, ‘One Health’ is an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. This approach, he said is critical to addressing health threats in the animal, human, and environmental interface.

It was pointed out that with the pact, IICA will conduct evaluations and capacity building in food safety with personnel from the ministries of Agriculture, Health and Natural resources.

According to WHO, ‘One Health’ is an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. This approach is critical to addressing health threats in the animal, human, and environmental interface.

As such, with the pact, IICA will conduct evaluations and capacity building in food safety with personnel from the ministries of Agriculture, Health and Natural resources.

“Health is not something that is just for the Health Ministry, but it has to be integrated across the board and we need all partners on board if we are going to have a comprehensive system of monitoring for future diseases,” Dr Anthony said.

Meanwhile, Mr Garnett said, “Our team will also be visiting, doing some field work after these professionals have been trained, they will be engaging to do some physical assessments and so in the respective regions.”

The health minister also relayed that the external evaluation of state parties’ reports is progressing.

This report, it was noted will pave the way for Guyana to access the pandemic fund to prepare for any possible future pandemics.

Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy was also present at the signing ceremony.