FAO’s One Health Monitoring Tool moves into roll-out phase
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today launched the workshop to review the One Health Monitoring Tool (OHMT) before its roll-out. The OHMT will be used to produce accurate data on the implementation of One Health, conduct One Health country profiling, and monitor progress on One Health implementation. The United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) supported this comprenhensive and participatory process.
In her opening remarks, FAO Representative to Kenya, Mrs. Carla Mucavi declared FAO’s full support for the process. FAO joined the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and participating African countries for this review. Representing the AU-IBAR Director Prof. James Wabacha, noted the unique step in the journey towards the development and integration of One Health across sectors in Africa. DTRA Programme Specialist for Kenya and Uganda, Mrs. Irene Onyancha, emphasized the importance of the OHMT for strengthening One Health performance at global level.Dr. Jane Lwoyero, who represented the OIE sub regional representation for Eastern Africa expressed her satisfaction to have the opportunity to identify and discuss the next steps for wider dissemination of the OHMT.
Piloting the OHMT
The final review of the OHMT concluded the last step of the development process of the tool. This last step was informed by the feedback obtained in a round of pilots in four countries namely Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Tanzania through workshops led by respective One Health platform involving key national One Health stakeholders. The results of these OHMT pilots showed that the tool is user-friendly and particpatory. This process has been essential for the fine-tuning of the tool, and its endorsement by National One Health Platforms.
OHMT Final review recommendations
During the final review of the OHMT, participants confirmed that the OHMT has the capability to identify One Health implementation gaps, prioritize actions and monitor progress made.
Countries recommended the Quadripartite (FAO/OIE/UNEP/WHO), development partners and donors to support the use the OHMT to scale-up One Health implementation.
FAO OHMT’s adoption improves One Health country profile
FAO, OIE, WHO and UNEP are partnering in developing and implementing the One Health approach at global level to ensure that specialists in multiple sectors and disciplines work together to tackle health threats to animals, humans, plants and the environment.
To date, countries do not have any tool to monitor progress made on One Health implementation. With the pioneering OHMT, all countries, even those without national One Health platforms, will be able to coordinate the sectors involved in health management and establish cooperation among them to monitor One Health progress. Comparable results will be generated in a systematic manner to generate a complete and reliable One Health country profile and to inform One Health programming, support resource mobilization, advocacy and communication.
For further information, please contact:
Joseph Othieno
National Communication Officer
FAO Kenya
Email: [email protected]
Yanira Santana
Regional Communications and Outreach
Bureau FAO ECTAD Africa
Email : [email protected]