TANZANIA hosted a landmark one health conference, bringing together government officials, international partners, civil society organizations, and experts to advance the one health approach as a critical strategy for global health security and sustainable human development.

The high-profile event, held under the theme “Advancing the One Health Approach to Achieve Global Health Security and Sustainable Development,” was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office, with the Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa as the guest of honor. 

The conference was co-hosted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reflecting the strong partnership between Tanzania and the U.S. government in tackling global health challenges.

The one health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, has gained significant momentum recently as a critical strategy to address complex health threats such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and ecological degradation. 

The conference highlighted the urgent need for collaborative solutions across sectors and borders to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to global health threats.

A key highlight of the conference was the role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in supporting Tanzania’s one health efforts. Through its Breakthrough Action program, USAID has been instrumental in building Tanzania’s capacity to tackle complex health challenges. One of the most successful initiatives under this program is the “Holela Holela Itakukosti” campaign, which focuses on engaging communities and creating dialogue about AMR and priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs) such as rabies, anthrax, and brucellosis. The campaign has significantly promoted the responsible use of antibiotics in human and animal health, a crucial component of the One Health approach.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister of Tanzania underscored the importance of the one health approach in strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to health emergencies. He emphasized that Tanzania is fully committed to implementing the one health framework as part of its national agenda for sustainable development.

 “Our health systems are interconnected, and to ensure our people’s and planet’s well-being, we must work together across all sectors. This conference is a testament to our collective efforts to safeguard global health security through one health,” the Prime Minister stated.

The three-day conference brought together experts and stakeholders from health, agriculture, environmental protection, and policy development. 

Discussions focused on pressing global health issues such as the impact of climate change on disease transmission, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the need to strengthen surveillance systems for early health risk detection.

USAID supported the event, continuing its long-standing partnership with Tanzania to advance health initiatives.

 Through its programs like Breakthrough ACTION, USAID has strengthened Tanzania’s capacity to tackle public health challenges. Dr Jema Bisimba, Deputy Health Office Director from USAID, praised Tanzania’s leadership: “We are proud to stand with Tanzania in this journey, addressing today’s health challenges and building resilient systems for the future.”

The conference also highlighted Tanzania’s achievements in implementing the one health approach, led by the Prime Minister’s Office. Participants emphasized the need for sustained political commitment, international collaboration, and resource mobilization to ensure the continued success of the One Health agenda for global health security and sustainable development.