Hanoi (VNA) – The Annual One Health Forum 2019 tookplace in Hanoi on June 12, highlighting Vietnam’s efforts to prevent andcontrol diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

The event was held by the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development within the framework of the Vietnam OneHealth Partnership for Zoonoses (OHP).

Speeches at the event provided updates on theOne Health Strategic Plan (OHSP) for 2016-2020 in building the capacity for thecommunity and animal healthcare systems at all levels to step up the monitoringand diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases in humans and animals. Thisstrategy aims to gradually eliminate rabies in humans, promote safeagricultural production, and detects risks of new disease outbreaks.

Participants shared experience in preventingzoonoses. Domestic and foreign partners also pledged to support Vietnam toprevent and fight emerging infectious diseases.

They agreed that it is necessary to enhanceinter-sectoral and inter-governmental cooperation in the integration of zoonosesprevention programmes.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam CaitlinWiesen highly valued the country’s efforts to carry out the OHSP in preventingzoonoses. She added the meeting would propose solutions and plans to specifymodels for successfully coordinating the OHP and ensuring the sustainability ofthis programme.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Phung Duc Tien said in Vietnam, the OHSP for 2016-2020 is beingimplemented strongly and effectively. In 2018 and the first half of this year,the country successfully organised three ministerial-level meetings on ASEANagricultural and forestry cooperation.

It has established itself as the leading countryin rabies prevention and control in Southeast Asia through the organisation ofthe ASEAN health and agricultural officials’ conference and the ASEANTripartite Rabies Meeting. It also completed a report reviewing theimplementation outcomes of the ASEAN Rabies Elimination Strategy.

Vietnam also hosted the 21st InternationalConference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Rim, which sharedexperience and promoted cooperation in the field among regional countries.

Tien noted that these activities have not onlyhelped turn Vietnam into one of the exemplary countries in the One Healthapproach but also affirmed its Government’s commitment to fighting zoonoses.

The OHP made debut on March 1, 2016 with theparticipation of the Vietnamese Government, along with 27 domestic and foreignagencies and organisations. They have worked together to carry out the OHSP for2016-2020, aiming to promote the country’s capacity in coping with risks ofzoonoses arising from the human – animal – environment interaction.-VNA