AMLSN

Logic of a well-resourced “One Health” approach requires multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration, aligning local, State, and national entities for quality health outcomes and resilience. In line with Mr President’s @officialABAT Renewed Hope Agenda, we inaugurated the “National One Health Steering Committee” co-chaired by the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture and Food Security, Environment, and Water Resources. Great also that my dear Cabinet colleagues, assembled by Mr President, are extraordinarily capable, with a Veterinary Doctor in Agriculture, Medical Doctor in Environment, and a great Engineer in Water Resources. Our charge is to provide oversight for an integrated, unified approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. With 70% of known human outbreaks and epidemics coming from the animal world, we cannot look at human health in isolation without respecting the interlinkage with our environment and animals. The Committee will work to overcome challenges of weak / suboptimal coordination among stakeholders. This will strengthen disease surveillance, information sharing and accelerate operationalization of the One Health platform and frameworks at federal and sub-national levels of government. Achieving health security for all Nigerians means addressing the full spectrum of disease control – from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and management. We must stop outbreaks in their tracks to save Nigerian lives and reduce the financial and physical pains associated with delayed response to epidemics. We must also pay attention to the silent but deadly problem of rising anti-microbial resistance, where antibiotics used in livestock agriculture finds ways into human microbiome and contribute to disease. We will support the Technical Experts, DG @NCDCgov, Ifedayo Adetifa, @IfedayoTiffy, as well as others, across sectors, to work together in the spirit of One Health.