By Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia
The world is witnessing an alarming increase in emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and the health impacts of climate change. These interconnected threats cross the boundaries of human, animal, and plant health, as well as environmental ecosystems.
On World One Health Day, we recommit to an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to address the full spectrum of disease control – from prevention to detection, preparedness, response, and management – by linking human, animal, and environmental health. This foundation for resilience against current and future health threats calls for shared responsibility, collective action, and inclusive governance—because no single sector or nation can act alone.
The recent adoption of the Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly marks a historic milestone, embedding One Health in global policy as a cornerstone for pandemic prevention and preparedness. This, together with the Pandemic Fund, provides new opportunities for sustained investment, capacity building, and equitable benefit-sharing to protect all populations—especially the most vulnerable.
The Quadripartite One Health Alliance—the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—plays a central role in advancing One Health initiatives globally and regionally. It has developed the One Health Joint Plan of Action 2022-2026 (OH JPA), outlining the four organizations' collective commitment to advocate for and support the implementation of One Health. The Asia Pacific Regional Quadripartite Secretariat, previously hosted by our WHO South-East Asia Regional Office from 2023 to 2024, is currently hosted by the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
In our region, Member States are translating One Health into action. National coordination mechanisms established after avian influenza and strengthened post-COVID-19 are delivering results. Bangladesh established its One Health Secretariat and Strategic Framework in 2012, now aligned with the Quadripartite OH JPA. Bhutan and Timor-Leste have an interministerial One Health secretariat and coordination mechanism respectively. India has designated a National One Health institution and has established an institute to promote One Health research. Myanmar is currently revising its 2019 National One Health Strategic Framework. Nepal has approved a One Health Strategy and established a Secretariat, Sri Lanka is enabling coordination among Ministries, and both countries are implementing Pandemic Fund projects. Thailand has two efficient high-level One Health committees addressing zoonoses, emerging diseases, and AMR.
Nonetheless, much remains to be done. We call upon Member States to:
- Institutionalize or strengthen One Health governance at national and subnational levels, in the context of country needs and priorities
- Use One Health operational tools for multisectoral communication, coordination, and collaboration
- Leverage financing opportunities, including the Pandemic Fund, to implement the OH JPA